title: Bone morphogenetic protein and growth differentiation factor cytokine families and their protein antagonists.
abstract: The BMPs (bone morphogenetic proteins) and the GDFs (growth and differentiation factors) together form a single family of cystine-knot cytokines, sharing the characteristic fold of the TGFbeta (transforming growth factor-beta) superfamily. Besides the ability to induce bone formation, which gave the BMPs their name, the BMP/GDFs display morphogenetic activities in the development of a wide range of tissues. BMP/GDF homo- and hetero-dimers interact with combinations of type I and type II receptor dimers to produce multiple possible signalling complexes, leading to the activation of one of two competing sets of SMAD transcription factors. BMP/GDFs have highly specific and localized functions. These are regulated in a number of ways, including the developmental restriction of BMP/GDF expression and through the secretion of several specific BMP antagonist proteins that bind with high affinity to the cytokines. Curiously, a number of these antagonists are also members of the TGF-beta superfamily. Finally a number of both the BMP/GDFs and their antagonists interact with the heparan sulphate side chains of cell-surface and extracellular-matrix proteoglycans.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, Surrey TW20 OEX, UK. c.rider@rhul.ac.uk
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Rider
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mulloy
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors