BMP8B
BMP8B (bone morphogenetic protein 8b, also known as OP-2 and BMP8) is a secreted member of the TGF-beta family that induces cartilage and bone formation. It also stimulates thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue. Browse Assay Genie's current range of BMP8B research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
BMP8B is a secreted ligand of the TGF-beta superfamily. Like other ligands in this family, it binds TGF-beta family receptors, which leads to the recruitment and activation of SMAD transcription factors that regulate gene expression. Functionally, the BMP8B protein induces cartilage and bone formation and may be the osteoinductive factor responsible for epithelial osteogenesis. It also plays a role in calcium regulation and bone homeostasis.
The BMP8B gene encodes a preproprotein that is proteolytically processed to generate each subunit of a disulfide-linked homodimer, which is the secreted mature form. Beyond skeletal biology, the encoded protein stimulates thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue, which links it to energy metabolism research. The mouse ortholog is Bmp8b.
The gene was previously named bone morphogenetic protein 8 (osteogenic protein 2), which explains the aliases OP-2 and BMP8. It belongs to the HGNC group of bone morphogenetic proteins. The gene may have arisen from a duplication event, and its duplicate, BMP8A, is also found on chromosome 1. Expression of BMP8B may be downregulated in pancreatic cancer, so it is also of interest in cancer studies.
BMP8B induces cartilage and bone formation and contributes to bone homeostasis, making it relevant to studies of skeletal development.
The encoded protein stimulates thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue, so BMP8B is studied in energy expenditure and metabolism.
As a TGF-beta superfamily ligand, BMP8B acts through receptors that activate SMAD transcription factors to regulate gene expression.
BMP8B expression may be downregulated in pancreatic cancer, prompting investigation of its expression in tumour biology.
BMP8B induces cartilage and bone formation and may be the osteoinductive factor behind epithelial osteogenesis. It plays a role in calcium regulation and bone homeostasis, and it stimulates thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue. It signals through TGF-beta family receptors and SMAD transcription factors.
BMP8B is also called OP-2 and BMP8. Its earlier HGNC name was bone morphogenetic protein 8 (osteogenic protein 2). It is distinct from BMP8A, a gene duplicate that is also located on chromosome 1. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
A mouse ortholog, Bmp8b, is recorded for this gene. NCBI Gene notes that BMP8B expression may be downregulated in pancreatic cancer. This is an observation about expression rather than a defined causal role, so it is best treated as a lead for further study.
Other bone morphogenetic proteins, BMP receptors and related regulators that sit alongside BMP8B in TGF-beta family signalling research.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P34820; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.