BMP-2/BMP-6 Heterodimer: Proteins and Enzymes

BMP-6 (Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6, Vgr-1) and BMP-2 are TGF-beta superfamily cytokines that are involved in embryogenesis, tissue morphogenesis, cell differentiation and migration, and tumorigenesis. Both BMP-2 and BMP-6 induce osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells. Heterodimers of BMP-2 and BMP-6 show increased potency at inducing osteoblastic calcium deposition, chondrogenesis, and in vivo bone formation compared to either BMP-2 or BMP-6 homodimers. BMP-2/6 heterodimers also show increased activity at inducing trophoectodermal and endodermal differentiation of embryonic stem cells compared to either homodimer.