Background of the antigen
BMP2 belongs to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFB) superfamily of secreted growth factors. It is a disulfide-linked homodimer and induces bone and cartilage formation. In addition to its osteogenic activity, BMP2 plays an important role in cardiac morphogenesis and is expressed in a variety of tissues including lung, spleen, brain, liver, prostate ovary and small intestine. The functional form of BMP2 is a 26 kDa protein composed of two identical 114 amino acid polypeptide chains linked by a single disulfide bond. BMPs control fundamental events in early embryonic development, organogenesis and adult tissue homeostasis.