BMP-6
BMP-6 (bone morphogenetic protein 6, also known as VGR1 or VGR) is a secreted growth factor of the TGF-beta superfamily. It contributes to cartilage and bone formation and regulates hepcidin expression and iron metabolism. Browse Assay Genie's current range of BMP-6 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
BMP-6 is a growth factor of the TGF-beta superfamily with essential roles in many developmental processes, including cartilage and bone formation. It initiates the canonical BMP signalling cascade by associating with the type I receptor ACVR1 and the type II receptor ACVR2B. ACVR1 then phosphorylates SMAD1/5/8, which travel to the nucleus and act as activators and repressors of target gene transcription. BMP-6 can also signal through non-canonical routes, such as the TAZ-Hippo signalling cascade, to modulate VEGF signalling by regulating VEGFR2 expression.
BMP-6 also has an important role in regulating HAMP (hepcidin) expression and iron metabolism. It acts as a ligand for hemojuvelin (HJV) and promotes HAMP expression, potentially through interaction with its receptor BMPR1A/ALK3. The BMP6 gene encodes a preproprotein that is proteolytically processed to generate each subunit of a disulfide-linked homodimer, which is secreted. Like other ligands of this family, it binds TGF-beta family receptors, leading to recruitment and activation of SMAD transcription factors.
According to NCBI Gene, BMP-6 regulates a wide range of biological processes, including iron homeostasis, fat and bone development, and ovulation. Differential expression of the gene may be associated with progression of breast and prostate cancer, and mutations may be associated with iron overload in human patients. BMP-6 was formerly named vegetal related growth factor (TGFB-related), hence the aliases VGR and VGR1, and belongs to the HGNC group of bone morphogenetic proteins.
BMP-6 acts as a ligand for hemojuvelin and regulates HAMP/hepcidin expression, making it central to studies of iron homeostasis and iron overload.
BMP-6 plays essential roles in developmental processes including cartilage and bone formation, and is studied in skeletal development and fat development.
BMP-6 engages ACVR1 and ACVR2B to trigger SMAD1/5/8 phosphorylation, providing a model ligand for canonical BMP pathway analysis.
Differential BMP6 expression may be associated with breast and prostate cancer progression, and the protein also regulates ovulation.
BMP-6 is a secreted TGF-beta superfamily ligand involved in cartilage and bone formation, and in regulating hepcidin expression and iron metabolism. It signals through ACVR1 and ACVR2B to activate SMAD1/5/8, and can also act through non-canonical TAZ-Hippo signalling to modulate VEGFR2 expression.
The gene symbol is BMP6, and the aliases are VGR and VGR1. The previous HGNC name was vegetal related growth factor (TGFB-related). The protein is synthesised as a preproprotein, then proteolytically processed into subunits that form a disulfide-linked homodimer.
NCBI Gene reports that mutations in BMP6 may be associated with iron overload in humans, and that differential expression may be associated with breast and prostate cancer progression. Mouse and rat both have a Bmp6 ortholog; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other bone morphogenetic proteins, BMP receptors and regulators of the BMP signalling pathway with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P22004; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.