Morphogenetic messages are in the extracellular matrix: biotechnology frombench to bedside

The origin and evolution of multicellular metazoa was accompanied by the ap pearance of extracellular matrix. The demineralized extracellular matrix of bone is enriched in morphogenetic proteins that induce bone. Bone morphoge netic proteins (BMPs) are intimately bound to collagens. BMP-4 has high aff inity for type-IV collagen, and other binding proteins such as noggin and c hordin. Soluble morphogens are kept in the solid state by extracellular mat rix. In this sense Nature used the principles of affinity matrices long bef ore humans patented the principle of affinity chromatography.