Endocrine Abstracts

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are multifunctional proteins that regulate the fate of different cell types, including mesenchymal. BMPs promote the differentiation of mesenchymal cells into functional osteoblasts. Like other members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, BMPs elicit their cellular effects via specific types I and II serine/threonine receptors. The activated BMP type I receptor phosphorylates specific receptor-regulated (R)-Smad proteins, whi...