rHu BMP-4 Protein

Product Summary

• High purity optimized human BMP-4 protein (Uniprot: P12644)
• 24 kDa (dimer)
• >98%, by SDS-PAGE quantitative densitometry
• Expressed in E. coli
• Animal origin-free (AOF) and carrier protein-free
• Manufactured in Cambridge, UK at Qkine laboratories
• Lyophilized from acetonitrile, TFA

Alternative Names

• Bone morphogenetic protein 4, Bone morphogenetic protein 2B, BMP-2B, BMP2B, DVR4, BMP4, BMP 4, Qk38

Reconstitution

Resuspend in 10 mM HCl (Reconstitution solution A) at >50 µg/ml, add carrier protein if desired, prepare single-use aliquots and store frozen at -20 °C (short-term) or -80 °C (long-term)

For Use Statement

For research use only. This product is not for human use or for direct clinical use as a drug, therapeutic, biologic or medical device.

Certificate of Analysis (CoA)
Certificate of Origin (CoO)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Product Page

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4) is part of the TGF-β superfamily of growth factors. BMP-4 is a key regulator of embryogenesis with roles in gastrulation, establishment of a dorsal-ventral axis, and regulation of limb development [1]. As their name suggest the BMP family is involved in the development and maintenance of bone and cartilage; in adults BMP-4 has roles bone and cartilage metabolism, as well as neurogenesis [2] and hematopoietic stem cell homing [3].

BMP-4 protein acts through two serine-threonine kinase receptors; Bone morphogenetic protein receptor (BMPR) 1 and BMPR2, via these receptors BMP-4 invokes Smad and map kinase pathways and consequently alters target gene transcription [1].

Recombinant BMP-4 is an essential growth factor for differentiation of induced pluripotent (iPSC) and embryonic stem cells to mesoderm lineage for further differentiation to cardiac [4, 5] and stromal cells [5]. BMP-4 is also used in a wide range of stem cell and organoid differentiation protocols. It is used in choroidal and melanocyte differentiation [6] and intestinal organoids [7]. BMP-4 has a morphogenetic effects in spinal organoids and modulates the arrangement and concentration of dorsal neural tube cell types in these organoids [8].

[1] Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling in development and human diseases. Genes & Diseases 1, 87–105 (2014). doi: 10.1016/j.gendis.2014.07.005

[2] Xu, H. et al. The function of BMP4 during neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus in Alzheimer’s disease. Ageing Research Reviews 12, 157–164 (2013). doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2012.05.002

[3] Khurana, S. et al. A novel role of BMP4 in adult hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell homing via Smad independent regulation of integrin-α4 expression. Blood 121, 781–790 (2013). doi.org/10.1182/blood-2012-07-446443

[4] Truszkowski L, Bottini S, Bianchi S et al. Refined and benchmarked homemade media for cost-effective, weekend-free human pluripotent stem cell culture. Open Res Europe (2025). doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.18245.2

[5] Tan J, Virtue S, Norris DM et al. Limited oxygen in standard cell culture alters metabolism and function of differentiated cells. EMBO J. (2024). doi: 10.1038/s44318-024-00084-7

[6] Watanabe M, Kang Y-J, Davies LM et al. BMP4 Sufficiency to Induce Choroid Plexus Epithelial Fate from Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neuroepithelial Progenitors. The Journal of Neuroscience (2012). doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3227-12.2012

[7] Berkova L, Fazilaty H, Yang Q et al. Terminal differentiation of villus tip enterocytes is governed by distinct Tgfb superfamily members. EMBO reports (2023). DOI 10.15252/embr.202256454

[8] Duval N, Vaslin C, Barata TC et al. BMP4 patterns Smad activity and generates stereotyped cell fate organization in spinal organoids. Stem cells and regeneration (2019). doi:10.1242/dev.175430