Bone morphogenetic proteins in development

Embryonic development and tissue regeneration is based on cell communications by conserved families of signaling molecules, such as Dpp/BMP, Wnt, FGF, Nodal and Hedgehog. The vertebrate bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are involved in the development of nearly all organs and tissues (Fig. 1), including the nervous system, somites, lung, kidney, skin and gonads, as well as in critical steps in the establishment of the basic embryonic body plan [1].