BMPR1B Antibody

BMPR1B (Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor Type IB), also known as ALK6, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the BMPR1B gene. BMPR1B is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor family of transmembrane serine/threonine kinases. The ligands of this receptor are BMPs, which are members of the TGF-beta superfamily. BMPs are involved in endochondral bone formation and embryogenesis. These proteins transduce their signals through the formation of heteromeric complexes of 2 different types of serine (threonine) kinase receptors: type I receptors of about 50-55 kD and type II receptors of about 70-80 kD. Type II receptors bind ligands in the absence of type I receptors, but they require their respective type I receptors for signaling, whereas type I receptors require their respective type II receptors for ligand binding. By analysis of a monochromosome hybrid mapping panel and by FISH, Astrom et al. (1999) mapped the BMPR1B gene to chromosome 4q22-q24. Ide et al. (1997) compared BMP receptor expression in normal and cancerous prostate tissues. While BMPR1A and BMPR2 were expressed at similar levels in all prostate tissues, BMPR1B was expressed at a significantly reduced level in cancerous prostate tissue.