Bone morphogenetic protein-1(BMP-1) and its related molecules are members of metalloendoproteinase astacin family, including BMP-1, mTLD, mTLL-1 and mTLL-2. Even though all of them lack of the ability to induce bone or cartilage formation directly, they play key roles in numerable activities in ECM from embryo to adult, then affect the procedure and the result of osteogenesis and bone remodeling directly or indirectly. They are critical in maturation and deposition of some major collagen types, and in regulating the signaling of some growth factors in TGF-β superfamily by degradation of TGF-β inhibitor such as Chordin. The investigations about tissue distribution of BMP-1 and its related proteinases and also gene knock-out studies strongly indicate that they play key roles in osteogenesis and bone development.
