| abstract |
This invention relates to amino acid sequence data, structural features, homologies and various other data characterizing morphogenic proteins. There is also disclosed methods of producing these proteins form natural and recombinant sources and from synthetic constructs. The invention also relates to morphogenic devices comprising these proteins and a suitably modified tissue-specific matrix. Methods of inducing non-chondrogenic tissue growth in mammals are also disclosed. The proteins are useful in inducing the developmental cascade of tissue morphogenesis for a variety of tissues in mammals different from bone or cartilage. The proteins of the morphogenic devices comprise a pair of folded polypeptides, the amino acid sequence of each comprises a sequence sharing at least 70% homology with the C-terminal seven-cysteine domain of human OP-1, mouse OP-1, human OP-2 or mouse OP-2, residues 38-139 of Seq. ID Nos. 5, 6, 7 or 8; or an essentially 102 amino acid sequence having cysteine residues at relative positions 1, 30, 34, 66, 67, 99 and 101 therein, wherein at least 70% of amino acid residues within said sequence are selected independently from residues occupying the corresponding positions within residues 38-139 of Seq. ID Nos., 5, 6, 7 or 8, or conservative substitutions of said corresponding residues. |