BONE MORPHOGENETIC PROTEIN-16 (BMP-16) COMPOSITIONS

Abstract: Purified BMP-16 proteins and processes for producing them are disclosed. DNA molecules encoding the BMP-16 proteins are also disclosed. The proteins may be used in the treatment of bone, cartilage, other connective tissue defects and disorders, including tendon, ligament and meniscus, in wound healing and related tissue repair, as well as for treatment of disorders and defects to tissues which include epidermis, nerve, muscle, including cardiac muscle, and other tissues and wounds, and organs such as liver, lung, cardiac, pancreas and kidney tissue. The proteins may also be useful for the induction of growth and/or differentiation of undifferentiated embryonic and stem cells.

Description: TITLE OF THE INVENTION BONE MORPHOGENETIC PROTEIN-16 (BMP-16) COMPOSITIONS The present invention relates to a novel family of puπfied proteins designated as Bone Morphogenetic Protein- 16 (BMP- 16) and BMP- 16-related proteins, DNA encoding them, and processes for obtaining them These proteins may be used to induce bone and/or cartilage or other connective tissue formation, and in wound healing and tissue repair These proteins may also be used for augmenting the activity of other bone morphogenetic proteins BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The search for the molecule or molecules responsible for the bone-, cartilage-, and other connective tissue-inductive activity present in bone and other tissue extracts has led to the discovery of a novel set of molecules called the Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) The structures of several proteins, designated BMP- ! through BMP- 15 have previously been elucidated The unique inductive activities of these proteins along with their presence in bone, suggests that thev are important regulators of bone repair processes, and may be involved in the normal maintenance of bone tissue There is a need to identify whether additional proteins, particularly human proteins, exist which play a role in these processes The present invention relates to the identification of such a novel human protein which the inventors have designated human BMP-16 Human BMP- 16 is the human homolog of a muπne protein called Nodal The nucieotide and arruno acid sequences of Nodal are described in Zhou et al , Nature, 361 543- 547 ( 1993) The muπne Nodal gene has been descπbed as being expressed in the mouse node duπng gastrulation A retrovirallv induced insertional mutation of the muπne Nodal gene results in the absence ot rnesodermal cell types normally associated with the pπmitive streak and is embryonic lethal Conlon et al . Development 120 1919-1928 ( 1994), Conlon et al , Development 1 1 1 969-981 ( 1991 ) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As used herein, the term BMP- 16 protein refers to the human BMP-16 protein, having the amino acid sequence specified in SEQUENCE ID NO 2, as well as DNA sequences encoding the BMP- 16 protein, such as the native human sequence shown tn SEQUENCE ID NO 1 Also included are naturally occurπng allelic sequences of SEQUENCE ID NO 1 and 2, and equivalent degenerative codon sequences of the above The BMP- 16 DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO I ) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO 2) are set forth in the Sequence Listings BMP- 16 proteins may be capable of inducing the formation of cartilage, bone, or other connective tissue, or combinations thereof The cartilage and/or bone and/or other connective tissue formation activity in the rat bone formation assay descπbed below BMP- 16 proteins may be further characteπzed by the ability to demonstrate effects upon the growth and/or differentiation of embryonic cells and/or stem cells Thus, the proteins or compositions of the present invention may also be useful for treating cell populations, such as embryonic cells or stem cell populations to enhance or enπch the growth and/or differentiation of the cells Human BMP- 16 protein may be produced by cultuπng a cell transformed with a DNA sequence compπsing nucleotide a DNA sequence encoding the mature BMP- 16 polypeptide, compπsing nucleotide #51 1 to nucleotide #840 as shown in SEQ ID NO 1 , and recoveπng and puπfymg from the culture medium a protein characteπzed by the ammo acid sequence compπsing ammo acids #1 to #1 10 as shown in SEQ ID NO 2 substantially free from other proteinaceous mateπals with which it is co-produced For production in mammalian cells, the DNA sequence further compπses a DNA sequence encoding a suitable propeptide 5' to and linked in frame to the nucleotide sequence encoding the mature BMP-16-related polypeptide The propeptide may be the native BMP- 16-related propeptide or may be a propeptide from another protein of the TGF-β superfamiiy Where the native BMP- 16 propeptide is used, human BMP- 16 may be produced by cultuπng a cell transformed with a DNA sequence compπsing a DNA sequence encoding the full BMP- 16 polypeptide. compπsing nucleotide #1 to #840 as shown in SEQ ID NO 1 , producing a protein characteπzed by the amino acid sequence compπsing ammo acids #-170 to #1 10 as shown in SEQ ID NO 2, of which amino acids -170 to - 1 compnse the native propeptide of human BMP- 16. and recoveπng and puπfying from the culture medium a protein characteπzed by the amino acid sequence compπsing amino acids #1 to #1 10 as shown in SEQ ID NO 2. substantially free from other proteinaceous mateπals with which it is co-produced It is expected that other species, particularly human, have DNA sequences homologous to human BMP- 16 protein The invention, therefore, includes methods tor obtaining the DNA sequences encoding human BMP- 16 protein, the DNA sequences obtained by those methods, and the human protein encoded by those DNA sequences This method entails utilizing the human BMP- 16 protein nucleotide sequence or portions thereof to design probes to screen libraries for the corresponding gene from other species or coding sequences or fragments thereof from using standard techniques Thus, the present invention may include DNA sequences from other species, which are homologous to human BMP-16 protein and can be obtained using the human BMP- 16 sequence The present invention may also include functional fragments of the human BMP- 16 protein, and DNA sequences encoding such functional fragments, as well as functional fragments of other related proteins The ability of such a fragment to function is determinable by assay of the protein in the biological assays descπbed for the assay of the BMP- 16 protein A DNA sequence encoding the complete mature human BMP- 16 protein (SEQ ID NO. l ) and the corresponding ammo acid sequence (SEQ ID NO 2) are set forth herein The BMP- 16 proteins of the present invention, such as human BMP- 16, may be produced by cultuπng a cell transformed with the correlating DNA sequence, such as the human BMP- 16 DNA sequence, and recoveπng and puπfying protein. such as BMP- 16. from the culture medium The puπfied expressed protein is substantially free from other proteinaceous mateπals with which it is co-produced, as well as from other contaminants The recovered puπfied protein is contemplated to exhibit cartilage and/or bone and/or connective tissue formation activity Thus, the proteins of the invention may be further characteπzed by the ability to demonstrate cartilage and or bone and/or other connective tissue formation activity in the rat bone formation assay descπbed below BMP- 16 proteins may be further characteπzed by the ability to demonstrate effects upon the growth and/or differentiation of embryonic cells and/or stem cells Thus, the proteins or compositions of the present invention may also be characteπzed by their ability to enhance or enπch the growth and/or differentiation of the cells Another aspect of the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions containing a therapeutically effective amount of human BMP- 16 protein, in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle or earner. These compositions of the invention may be used in the formation of bone These compositions may further be utilized for the formation of cartilage, or other connective tissue, including tendon, ligament, meniscus and other connective tissue, as well as combinations of the above, for example regeneration of the tendon-to-bone attachment apparatus. The compositions of the present invention, such as compositions of human BMP- 16, may also be used for wound healing and tissue repair. Compositions of the invention may further include at least one other therapeutically useful agent such as the BMP proteins BMP-1 , BMP-2, BMP-3. BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6 and BMP-7, disclosed for instance in United States Patents 5,108,922. 5,013,649. 5, 1 16,738, 5.106,748, 5, 187,076, and 5.141 ,905, BMP-8, disclosed in PCT publication WO91/18098, and BMP-9, disclosed in PCT publication WO93/00432, BMP- 10, disclosed in PCT application W094/26893 BMP- 1 1 , disclosed in PCT application W094/26892. or BMP-12 or BMP-1 3, disclosed in PCT application WO 95/16035, or BMP- 15, disclosed in co-pending patent application, seπal no 08/446,924, filed on May 18, 1995 Other compositions which may also be useful include Vgr-2, and any of the growth and differentiation factors [GDFs], including those descπbed in PCT applications W094/15965, W094/15949, WO95/01801 , WO95/01802. W094/21681 , W094/15966, WO95/10539 WO96/01845 WO96/02559 and others Also useful the present invention may be BIP, disclosed in WO94/01557, HP00269, disclosed in JP Publication number 7-250688, and MP52. disclosed PCT application WO93/16099 The disclosures of all of the above applications are hereby incorporated by reference The compositions of the invention may compπse. in addition to a BMP-16-related protein, other therapeuticallv useful agents including growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), transforming growth factor (TGF-α and TGF-β), activins, inhibins, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) The compositions may also include an appropπate matπx for instance, for supporting the composition and providing a surface for bone and/or cartilage and/or other connective tissue growth The matπx may provide slow release of the osteoinductive protein and/or the appropπate environment for presentation thereof The BMP- 16 containing compositions may be employed in methods for treating a number of bone and or cartilage and/or other connective tissue defects, peπodontal disease and healing of vaπous types ot tissues and wounds The tissue and wounds which may be treated include epidermis, nerve, muscle, including cardiac muscle, and other tissues and wounds, and other organs such as liver, lung, cardiac, pancreas and kidney tissue These methods, according to the invention, entail administeπng to a patient needing such bone and/or cartilage and/or other connective tissue formation, wound healing or tissue repair, an effective amount of a BMP- 16 protein The BMP-16-contaιnιng compositions may also be used to treat or prevent such conditions as osteoarthπtis, osteoporosis, and other abnormalities of bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, ligament or other connective tissue, organs such as liver, lung, cardiac, pancreas and kidney tissue, and other tissues These methods may also entail the administration of a protein of the invention in conjunction with at least one other BMP protein as descπbed above In addition, these methods may also include the administration of a BMP- 16 protein with other growth factors including EGF, FGF, TGF-α, TGF-β. activin, inhibin and IGF Still a further aspect of the invention are DNA sequences coding for expression of a BMP- 16 protein Such sequences include the sequence of nucleotides in a 5' to 3' direction illustrated in SEQ ID NO 1 , DNA sequences which, but for the degeneracy of the genetic code, are identical to the DNA sequence SEQ ID NO 1 , and encode the protein of SEQ ID NO 2 Further included in the present invention are DNA sequences which hybπdize under stπngent conditions with the DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO 1 and encode a protein having the ability to induce the formation of cartilage and/or bone and/or other connective tissue, or other organs such as liver, lung, cardiac, pancreas and kidney tissue Preferred DNA sequences include those which hybπdize under stπngent conditions [see, T Maniatis et al. Molecular Cloning (A Laboratory Manual), Cold Spπng Harbor Laboratory ( 1982), pages 387 to 389] It is generally preferred that such DNA sequences encode a polypeptide which is at least about 80% homologous, and more preferably at least about 90% homologous, to the mature human BMP- 16 ammo acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO 2 Finally, allehc or other vaπations of the sequences of SEQ ID NO 1 , whether such nucleotide changes result in changes in the peptide sequence or not, but where the peptide sequence still has BMP- 16 activity, are also included in the present invention The present invention also includes fragments of the DNA sequence of BMP- 16 shown in SEQ ID NO I which encode a polypeptide which retains the activity of BMP- 16 protein The DNA sequences of the present invention are useful, for example, as probes for the detection of mRNA encoding BMP- 16 in a given cell population Thus, the present invention includes methods of detecting or diagnosing genetic disorders involving the BMP 16 gene or disorders involving cellular, organ or tissue disorders in which BMP- 16 is lπegularly transcπbed or expressed The DNA sequences may also be useful for prepaπng vectors for gene therapy applications as descπbed below A further aspect of the invention includes vectors compπsing a DNA sequence as descπbed above in operative association with an expression control sequence therefor These vectors may be employed in a novel process for producing a BMP- 16 protein of the invention in which a cell line transformed with a DNA sequence encoding BMP-16 protein in operative association with an expression control sequence therefor is cultured in a suitable culture medium and a BMP- 16-related protein is recovered and puπfied therefrom This process may employ a number of known cells both prokaryotic and eukaryotic as host cells for expression of the polypeptide The vectors may be used in gene therapy applications In such use, the vectors may be transfected into the cells of a patient ex vivo, and the cells may be remtroduced into a patient Alternatively, the vectors ma> be introduced into a patient in through targeted transfection Still a further aspect of the invention are BMP- 16 proteins or polypeptides Such polypeptides are characteπzed by having an amino acid sequence including the sequence illustrated in SEQ ID NO 2, vanants of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 2, including naturally occumng allelic vanants, and other vanants in which the protein retains the ability to induce the formation of cartilage and/or bone and/or other connective tissue, or other organs such as liver, lung, cardiac, pancreas and kidney tissue, or other activity characteπstic of BMP- 16 Preferred polypeptides include a polypeptide which is at least about 80% homologous, and more preferably at least about 90% homologous, to the mature human BMP- 16 amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO 2 Finally, allelic or other vanations of the sequences of SEQ ID NO 2. whether such ammo acid changes are induced by mutagenesis, chemical alteration, or by alteration of DNA sequence used to produce the polypeptide, where the peptide sequence still has BMP- 16 activity, are also included in the present invention The present invention also includes fragments of the ammo acid sequence of BMP- 16 shown in SEQ ID NO 2 which retain the activity of BMP- 16 protein The puπfied proteins of the present inventions may be used to generate antibodies, either monoclonal or polyclonal, to human BMP- 16 and/or other BMP-16-related proteins, using methods that are known in the art of antibody production Thus, the present invention also includes antibodies to human BMP- 16 and/or other related proteins The antibodies may be useful for puπfication of BMP- 16 and/or other BMP- 16 related proteins, or for inhibiting or preventing the effects of BMP- 16 related proteins The BMP- 16 protein and related proteins may be useful for inducing the growth and/or differentiation of embryonic cells and/or stem cells Thus, the proteins or compositions of the present invention may also be useful for treating relatively undifferentiated cell populations, such as embryonic cells or stem cell populations, to enhance or enπch the growth and/or differentiation of the cells The treated cell populations may be useful for tmplantation and for gene therapy applications Descπption of the Sequences SEQ ID NO 1 is a nucleotide sequence containing nucleotide sequence encoding the entire mature human BMP- 16 polypeptide SEQ ID NO 2 is the amino acid sequence containing the mature human BMP- 16 polypeptide sequence SEQ ID NO 3 is the nucleotide sequence of the second exon of the genomic DNA for the human BMP- 16 polypeptide SEQ ID NO 4 is the nucleotide sequence of the third exon of the genomic DNA for the human BMP- 16 polypeptide Detailed Descπption of the Invention The human BMP-16 sequence of the present invention is obtained using the whole or fragments of the muπne BMP-16-related DNA sequence, or a partial human BMP- 16 sequence, as a probe Thus, the human BMP-16 DNA sequence compnse the DNA sequence of nucleotides #1 to #840 of SEQ ID NO 1 This sequence of the human BMP-16 DNA sequence corresponds well to nucleotides #526 to # 1393 of the muπne Nodal DNA sequence descπbed in GenBank accession # X70514 The human BMP- 16 protein compπses the sequence of amino acids #-170 to #1 10 of SEQ ID NO 2 The mature human BMP- 16 protein is encoded by nucleotides #51 1 to #840 of SEQ ID NO 1 , and compπses the sequence of amino acids #1 to #1 10 of SEQ ID NO 2 It is expected that human BMP- 16 protein, as expressed by mammalian cells such as CHO cells, exists as a heterogeneous population of active species of BMP- 16 protein with varying N-termini It is expected that active species will compnse an amino acid sequence beginning with the cysteine residue at ammo acid #10 of SEQ ID NO 2, or will compnse additional amino acid sequence further in the N-terminal direction Thus, it is expected that DNA sequences encoding active BMP- 16 proteins will compnse a nucleotide sequence co pnsing nucleotides #1 , #51 1 or #538 to #837 or #840 of SEQ ID NO 1 Accordingly, active species of human BMP-16 are expected to include those compπsing am o acids #- 170, #1 or #10 to #109 or #1 1 O of SEQ ID NO 2 A host cell may be transformed with a coding sequence encoding a propeptide suitable for the secretion of proteins by the host cell is linked in proper reading frame to the coding sequence for the mature BMP- 16 protein For example, see United States Patent 5, 168,050, in which a DNA encoding a precursor portion of a mammalian protein other than BMP-2 is fused to the DNA encoding a mature BMP-2 protein See also the specification of WO95/16035, in which the propeptide of BMP-2 is fused to the DNA encoding a mature BMP-12 protein The disclosure of both of these references are hereby incoφorated by reference Thus, the present invention includes chimeπc DNA molecules compπsing a DNA sequence encoding a propeptide from a member of the TGF-β superfamily of proteins, other than BMP- 16, is linked in conect reading frame to a DNA sequence encoding human BMP- 16 protein, or a related protein The term "chimeπc' is used to signify that the propeptide oπginates from a different polypeptide than the BMP- 16 protein The N-terminus of one active species of human BMP- 16 is expected to be experimentally determined by expression in E coli to be as follows [M]HHLPDRSQLC Thus, it appears that the N-terminus of this species of BMP- 16 is at amino acid #1 of SEQ ID NO 1. and a DNA sequence encoding said species of BMP- 16 would compnse nucleotides #51 1 to #840 of SEQ ID NO 1 The apparent molecular weight of human BMP- 16 monomer is expected to be expeπmentally determined by SDS-PAGE to be approximately 13 kd on a Novex 16% tπcine gel The human BMP- 16 protein is expected to exist as a clear, colorless solution in 0 1 % tnfluoroacetic acid It is expected that other BMP- 16 proteins, as expressed by mammalian cells such as CHO cells, also exist as a heterogeneous population of active species of BMP- 16-related protein with varying N-termini For example, it is expected that active species of human BMP- 16 protein will compnse an amino acid sequence beginning with the cvsteine residue at amino acid #10 of SEQ ID NO.2. or will compnse additional ammo acid sequence further in the N- terminal direction Thus, it is expected that DNA sequences encoding active BMP-I6 proteins include those which compnse a nucleotide sequence compπsing nucleotides #51 1 or #538 to #837 or #840 of SEQ ID NO 1 Accordingly, active human BMP- 16 proteins include those compπsing amino acids #1 or #10 to #109 or #1 10 of SEQ ID NO 2 The BMP- 16 proteins of the present invention, include polypeptides having a molecular weight of about 1 3 kd in monomeπc form, said polypeptide compπsing the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 2 and having the ability to induce the formation of cartilage and/or bone and/or other connective tissue in the Rosen-Modified Sampath-Reddi ectopic implant assay, descnbed in the examples The BMP- 16 proteins recovered from the culture medium are puπfied by isolating them from other proteinaceous matenals from which thev are co-produced and from other contaminants present BMP- 16 proteins may be characteπzed by the ability to induce the formation of cartilage and/or bone and/or other connective tissue and other tissue repair and differentiation, for example, in the rat bone formation assay descnbed below In addition, BMP- 16 proteins may be further characterized by their effects upon the growth and/or differentiation of embryonic cells and/or stem cells Thus, the proteins or compositions of the present invention mav be characteπzed by the embryonic stem cell assay descnbed below The BMP-16 proteins provided herein also include factors encoded by the sequences similar to those of SEQ ID NO 1, but into which modifications or deletions are naturally provided (e g allelic vanations in the nucleotide sequence which may result in am o acid changes in the polypeptide) or deliberately engineered For example, synthetic polypeptides may wholly or partially duplicate continuous sequences of the ammo acid residues of SEQ ID NO 2 These sequences by virtue of shaπng pπmary, secondary, or tertiary structural and conformational characteπstics with bone growth factor polypeptides of SEQ ID NO 2 may possess biological properties in common therewith It is know, for example that numerous conservative ammo acid substitutions are possible without significantly modifying the structure and conformation of a protein, thus maintaining the biological properties as well For example, it is recognized that conservative amino acid substitutions may be made among ammo acids with basic side chains, such as lysine (Lys or K), arginine (Arg or R) and histidine (His or H), amino acids with acidic side chains, such as aspartic acid (Asp or D) and glutamic acid (Glu or E), amino acids with uncharged polar side chains, such as asparagine (Asn or N), glutamme (Gin or Q), seπne (Ser or S), threonine (Thr or T), and tyrosine (Tyr or Y), and amino acids with nonpolar side chains such as alanine (Ala or A), glycine (Gly or G), valine (Val or V), leucine (Leu or L), isoleucine (He or I), proline (Pro or P), phenylalanine (Phe or F), ethionme (Met or M), tryptophan (Tip or W) and cysteine (Cys or C) Thus, these modifications and deletions of the native BMP- 16 may be employed as biologically active substitutes for natural ly-occurπng BMP-16 and other polypeptides in therapeutic processes It can be readily determined whether a given vaπant of BMP-] 6 maintains the biological activity of BMP-16 by subjecting both BMP-16 and the vaπant of BMP-16 to the assays descπbed in the examples Other specific mutations of the sequences of BMP- 16 proteins descπbed herein involve modifications of glycosylation sites These modifications may involve O-linked or N- linked glycosylation sites For instance, the absence of glycosylation or only partial glycosylation results from amino acid substitution or deletion at asparagine-linked glycosylation recognition sites The asparagine-linked glycosylation recognition sites compnse tπpeptide sequences which are specifically recognized by appropπate cellular glycosylation enzymes These tπpeptide sequences are either asparagine-X-threonine or asparagine-X-seπne, where X is usually any am o acid A vanety of amino acid substitutions or deletions at one or both of the first or third am o acid positions of a glycosylation recognition site (and/or amino acid deletion at the second position) results in non-glycosylation at the modified tπpeptide sequence Additionally, bacterial expression ot BMP-16-related protein will also result in production of a non-glycosylated protein, even if the glycosylation sites arc left unmodified The present invention also encompasses the novel DNA sequences, free of association with DNA sequences encoding other proteinaceous mateπals, and coding for expression of BMP- 16 proteins These DNA sequences include those depicted in SEQ ID NO 1 in a 5' to 3' direction and those sequences which hybndize thereto under stnngent hybπdization washing conditions [for example, 0 I X SSC, 0 1 % SDS at 65 °C, see, T Maniatis et al. Molecular Cloning (A Laboratory Manual), Cold Spπng Harbor Laboratory ( 1982), pages 387 to 389] and encode a protein having cartilage and/or bone and/or other connective tissue inducing activity These DNA sequences also include those which compnse the DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO 1 and those which hybπdize thereto under stπngent hybndization conditions and encode a protein which maintain the other activities disclosed for BMP- 16 Similarly, DNA sequences which code for BMP- 16 proteins coded for by the sequences of SEQ ID NO 1 , or BMP- 16 proteins which compnse the ammo acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 2, but which differ in codon sequence due to the degeneracies of the genetic code or allelic vanations (naturally-occurπng base changes in the species population which may or may not result in an amino acid change) also encode the novel factors descπbed herein Vanations in the DNA sequences of SEQ ID NO 1 which are caused by point mutations or by induced modifications (including insertion, deletion, and substitution) to enhance the activity, half-life or production of the polypeptides encoded are also encompassed in the invention Another aspect of the present invention provides a novel method tor producing BMP- 16 proteins The method of the present invention involves cultuπng a suitable cell line, which has been transformed with a DNA sequence encoding a BMP- 16 protein of the invention, under the control of known regulatory sequences The transformed host cells are cultured and the BMP-16 proteins recovered and puπfied from the culture medium The puπfied proteins are substantially free from other proteins with which they are co-produced as well as from other contaminants Suitable cells or cell lines may be mammalian cells, such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) The selection of suitable mammalian host cells and methods for transformation, culture, amplification, screening, product production and puπfication are known in the art See, e g , Gething and Sambrook. Nature, 293 620-625 ( 1981 ), or alternatively, Kaufman et al. Mol Cell Biol . 5(7) 1750-1759 ( 1985) or Howley et al. U S Patent 4.419,446 Another suitable mammalian cell line, which is descπbed in the accompanying examples, is the monkey COS- 1 cell line The mammalian cell CV- 1 may also be suitable Bacteπai cells may also be suitable hosts For example, the vaπous strains of E coh (e g , HB 101. MC 1061 ) are well-known as host ceils in the field of biotechnology Vaπous strains of B subtilis. Pseudomonas, other bacilli and the like may also be employed in this method For expression of the protein in bacteπai cells DNA encoding the propeptide of BMP- 16 is generally not necessary Many strains of yeast cells known to those skilled in the art may also be available as host cells for expression of the polypeptides of the present invention Additionally, where desired, insect cells may be utilized as host cells in the method of the present invention See, e g Miller et al Genetic Enpineeπng, 8 277-298 (Plenum Press 1986) and references cited therein Another aspect of the present invention provides vectors for use in the method of expression of these novel BMP- 16 polypeptides Preferably the vectors contain the full novel DNA sequences descπbed above which encode the novel factors of the invention Additionally, the vectors contain appropπate expression control sequences permitting expression of the BMP- 16 protein sequences Alternatively, vectors incorporating modified sequences as descπbed above are also embodiments of the present invention Additionally, the sequence of SEQ ID NO 1 or other sequences encoding BMP- 16 proteins could be manipulated to express a mature BMP- 16 protein by deleting BMP- 16 propeptide sequences and replacing them with sequences encoding the complete propeptides of other BMP proteins or members of the TGF-β superfamily Thus, the present invention includes chimeπc DNA molecules encoding a propeptide from a member of the TGF-β superfamily linked in correct reading frame to a DNA sequence encoding a BMP- 16 polypeptide The vectors may be employed in the method of transforming cell lines and contain selected regulatory sequences in operative association with the DNA coding sequences of the invention which are capable of directing the replication and expression thereof in selected host cells Regulatory sequences for such vectors are known to those skilled in the art and av be selected depending upon the host cells Such selection is routine and does not form part of the present invention A protein of the present invention, which induces cartilage and/or bone and/or other connective tissue formation in circumstances where such tissue is not normally formed, has application in the healing of bone fractures and cartilage or other connective tissue defects in humans and other animals Such a preparation employing a BMP-16 protein may have prophylactic use in closed as well as open fracture reduction and also in the improved fixation of artificial joints De novo bone formation induced by an osteogenic agent contπbutes to the repair of congenital, trauma induced, or oncologic resection induced craniofacial defects, and also is useful in cosmetic plastic surgery A BMP- 16-related protein may be used in the treatment of peπodontal disease, and in other tooth repair processes Such agents may provide an environment to attract bone-forming cells, stimulate growth of bone-forming cells or induce differentiation of progenitors of bone-forming cells, and may also support the regeneration of the penodontal ligament and attachment apparatus, which connects bone and teeth BMP-16 polypeptides of the invention may also be useful in the treatment of osteoporosis A vaπety of osteogenic. cartilage-inducing and bone inducing factors have been descπbed See, e g , European patent applications 148, 155 and 169.016 for discussions thereof The proteins of the invention may also be used in wound healing and related tissue repair The types of wounds include, but are not limited to burns, incisions and ulcers (See, e g PCT Publication WO84/01 106 for discussion of wound healing and related tissue repair) It is further contemplated that proteins of the invention may increase πeuronal, astrocytic and glial cell survival and therefore be useful in transplantation and treatment of conditions exhibiting a decrease in ncuronal survival and repair The proteins of the invention may further be useful for the treatment of conditions related to other types of tissue, such as nerve epidermis, muscle, and other organs such as liver, lung, cardiac, pancreas and kidney tissue The proteins of the present invention may further be useful for the treatment of relatively undifferentiated cell populations, such as embryonic cells, or stem cells, to enhance growth and/or differentiation of the cells The proteins of the present invention may also have value as a dietary supplement, or as a component of cell culture media For this use, the proteins ma\ be used m intact form, or mav be predigested to provide a more readily absorbed supplement The proteins of the invention may also have other useful properties characteπstic of the TGF-β superfamily of proteins Such properties include angiogenic, chemotactic and/or chemoattractant properties, and effects on cells including induction of collagen synthesis fibrosis, differentiation responses, cell proliferative responses and responses involving cell adhesion, migration and extracellular matnces These properties make the proteins of the invention potential agents for wound healing, reduction of fibrosis and reduction of scar tissue formation When dimeπzed as a homodimer or as a heterodimer with other BMPs, with other members of the TGF-β superfamily of proteins, or with inhibin-α proteins or inhibin-β proteins, the BMP- 16 heterodimer is expected to demonstrate effects on the production of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), as descπbed further herein It is recognized that FSH stimulates the development of ova in mammalian ovaπes (Ross et al , in Textbook of Endocπnology ed Williams, p 355 ( 1981 ) and that excessive stimulation of the ovaπes with FSH will lead to multiple ovulations FSH is also important in testicular function Thus, BMP-16 may be useful as a contraceptive based on the ability of inhibins to decrease fertility in female mammals and decrease spermatogenesis in male mammals Administration of sufficient amounts of other inhibins can induce infertility in mammals BMP- 16 may also be useful as a fertility inducing therapeutic, based upon the ability of activm molecules in stimulating FSH release from cells of the anterior pituitary See, for example, United States Patent 4,798,885 BMP- 16 may also be useful for advancement of the onset of fertility in sexually immature mammals, so as to increase the lifetime reproductive performance of domestic animals such as cows, sheep and pigs It is further contemplated that BMP- 16 may be useful in modulating hematopoiesis by inducing the differentiation of erythroid cells [see e g . Broxmeyer et al, Proc Natl Acad Set USA 85 9052-9056 ( 1988) or Eto et al Bwchem Btophvs Res Com \A2 1095- 1 103 ( 1987)], for suppressing the development of gonadal tumors [see, e g , Matzuk et al . Nature, 360 313-319 ( 1992)] or for augmenting the activity of bone morphogenetic proteins [see, e g , Ogawa et al , J Biol Chem , 267 14233-14237 ( 1992)] BMP-16 proteins may be further characteπzed by their ability to modulate the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in established m \ ttro bioassays using rat antenor pituitary cells as descπbed [see, e g , Vale et al. Endocrinology, 9 _ 562-572 ( 1972), Ling et al . Nature, 32J. 779-782 ( 1986) or Vale et al , Nature, 321 776-779 ( 1986)] It is contemplated that the BMP- 16 protein of the invention when composed as a heterodimer with inhibin α or inhibin β chains, will exhibit regulatory effects, either stimulatory or inhibitory on the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from antenor pituitary cells as descπbed [Ling et al . Nature, 3_2_L 779-782 (1986) or Vale et al . Nature. 32J. 776-779 ( 1986) Vale et al, Endocrinology, 9 _ 562-572 (1972) Therefore depending on the particular composition, it is expected that the BMP- 16 protein of the invention may have contrasting and opposite effects on the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from the antenor pituitary Activin A (the homodimeπc composition of inhibin β A ) has been shown to have erythropoietic-stimulating activity [see e g Eto et al Bwchem Btophvs Res Commun , 142 1095- 1 103 (1987) and Murata et al , Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A , 85 2434-2438 ( 1988) and Yu et al , Nature, 330 765-767 (1987)] It is contemplated that the BMP-16 protein of the invention may have a similar erythropoietic-stimulating activitv This activity of the BMP-16 protein may be further characteπzed by the ability of the BMP- 16 protein to demonstrate erythropoietm activity in the biological assay performed using the human K-562 cell line as descπbed by [Lozzio et al . Blood, 45 321 334 ( 1975) and U S Pat No 5,071 ,834] A further aspect of the invention is a therapeutic method and composition for repaiπng fractures and other conditions related to cartilage and/or bone and/or other connective tissue defects or peπodontal diseases The invention further compπses therapeutic methods and compositions for wound healing and tissue repair Such compositions compnse a therapeutically effective amount of at least one of the BMP- 16-related proteins of the invention in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, earner or matπx It is further contemplated that compositions of the invention may increase neuronal survival and therefore be useful in transplantation and treatment of conditions exhibiting a decrease in neuronal survival Compositions of the invention may further include at least one other therapeutically useful agent, such as members of the TGF-β superfamily of proteins, which includes the BMP proteins BMP-1. BMP-2. BMP-3. BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6 and BMP-7, disclosed for instance in United States Patents 5, 108,922, 5,013,649, 5, 1 16.738, 5, 106,748, 5,187,076, and 5, 141 ,905, BMP-8. disclosed in PCT publication WO91/18098. BMP-9, disclosed in PCT publication WO93/00432, BMP- 10, disclosed in PCT application W094/26893, BMP-1 I , disclosed in PCT application W094/26892, BMP- 12 or BMP- 13. disclosed in PCT application WO 95/16035, or BMP-15, disclosed in co-pending patent application, seπal no 08/446,924. filed on May 18. 1995 Other compositions which may also be useful include Vgr-2. and any of the growth and differentiation factors [GDFs], including those descπbed in PCT applications W094/15965, W094/I 5949, WO95/01801 , WO95/01802 W094/21681 , W094/15966, WO95/10539. WO96/01845, WO96/02559 and others Also useful in the present invention may be BIP, disclosed in WO94/01557, HP00269, disclosed in JP Publication number 7-250688. and MP52. disclosed in PCT application WO93/16099 The disclosures of the above applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein It is expected that human BMP- 16 protein may exist in nature as homodimers or heterodimers. To promote the formation of dimers of BMP- 16 and useful proteins with increased stability, one can genetically engineer the DNA sequence of SEQUENCE ID NO 1 to provide one or more additional cysteine residues to increase potential dimer formation The resulting DNA sequence would be capable of producing a ' cysteine added vanant" of BMP- 16 In a preferred embodiment, one would engineer the DNA sequence of SEQUENCE ID NO 1 so that one or more codons may be altered to a nucleotide tπplet encoding a cysteine residue, such as TGT or TGC Alternatively, one can produce 'cysteine added vanants' of BMP- 16 protein by alteπng the sequence of the protein at the ammo acid level by altering one or more amino acid residues of SEQUENCE ID NO.2 to Cys Production of ' cysteine added vanants" of proteins is descπbed in United States Patent 5, 166,322, the disclosure of which is hereby incoφorated by reference It is expected that the proteins of the invention may act in concert with or perhaps synergistically with other related proteins and growth factors Further therapeutic methods and compositions of the invention therefore compnse a therapeutic amount of at least one BMP-16 protein of the invention with a therapeutic amount of at least one other member of the TGF-β superfamily of proteins, such as the BMP proteins disclosed in the applications descπbed above Such combinations may compnse separate molecules of the BMP proteins or heteromolecules compπsed of different BMP moieties. For example, a method and composition of the invention may compnse a disulfide linked dimer compπsing a BMP-16 protein subunit and a subunit from one of the "BMP" proteins described above. Thus, the present invention includes a purified BMP- 16-related polypeptide which is a heterodimer wherein one subunit compπses the amino acid sequence from ammo acid #1 to amino acid #1 10 of SEQ ID NO:2, and one subunit comprises an am o acid sequence for a bone morphogenetic protein selected from the group consisting of BMP-1 , BMP-2, BMP-3. BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6. BMP-7. BMP-8. BMP-9, BMP- 10, BMP- 1 1 , BMP- 12 or BMP- 13. disclosed in PCT application WO 95/16035. or BMP- 15. disclosed in co-pending patent application, seπal number 08/446,924, filed on May 18, 1995. A further embodiment may comprise a heterodimer of BMP- 16-related moieties, for example of human BMP- 16 and the muπne Nodal protein, which is the homologue of human BMP- 16. Further, BMP- 16 protein may be combined with other agents beneficial to the treatment of the bone and/or cartilage and/or other connective tissue defect, wound, or tissue in question. These agents include various growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF , fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet deπved growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factors (TGF-c and TGF-β), activins. inhibins, and k-fibroblast growth factor (kFGF), parathyroid hormone (PTH), parathyroid hormone related peptide (PTHrP), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIB/HILA/DA), insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II). Portions of these agents may also be used in compositions of the present invention. The preparation and formulation of such physiologically acceptable protein compositions, having due regard to pH, isotonicity, stability and the like, is within the skill of the an. The therapeutic compositions are also presently valuable for veteπnary applications due to the lack of species specificity in BMP proteins. Particularly domestic animals and thoroughbred horses in addition to humans are desired patients for such treatment with the BMP- 16 proteins of the present invention. The therapeutic method includes administering the composition topically, systemically, or locally as an implant or device. When administered, the therapeutic composition for use in this invention is. of course, in a pyrogen-free, physiologically acceptable form Further, the composition may desirably be encapsulated or injected in a viscous form for delivery to the site of bone, cartilage or other connective tissue or other tissue damage Topical administration may be suitable for wound healing and tissue repair Therapeutically useful agents other than the BMP- 16 proteins which may also optionally be included in the composition as descπbed above, may alternatively or additionally, be administered simultaneously or sequentially with the BMP composition in the methods of the invention Preferably for bone and/or cartilage and/or other connective tissue formation, the composition includes a matπx capable of deliveπng BMP- 16-related or other BMP proteins to the site of bone and/or cartilage and/or other connective tissue damage, providing a structure for the developing bone and cartilage and other connective tissue and optimally capable of being resorbed into the body The matπx may provide slow release of BMP- 16 protein and/or other bone inductive protein, as well as proper presentation and appropπate environment for cellular infiltration Such matπces may be formed of mateπals presently in use for other implanted medical applications The choice of matπx mateπal is based on biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical properties, cosmetic appearance and interface properties. The particular application of the BMP- 16 compositions will define the appropπate formulation Potential matπces for the compositions may be biodegradable and chemically defined calcium sulfate. tπcalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, polylactic acid and polyanhydπdes Other potential mateπals are biodegradable and biologically well defined, such as bone or dermal collagen Further matrices are compπsed of pure proteins or extracellular matπx components Other potential matπces are nonbiodegradable and chemically defined, such as sintered hydroxyapatite. bioglass, aluminates, or other ceramics Matnces may be compnsed of combinations of any of the above mentioned types of mateπal. such as polylactic acid and hydroxyapatite or collagen and tπcalcium phosphate The bioceramics may be altered in composition, such as in calcium-aluminate-phosphate and processing to alter pore size, particle size, particle shape, and biodegradability The dosage regimen will be determined by the attending physician consideπng vaπous factors which modify the action of the BMP- 16 protein, e g amount of bone or other tissue weight desired to be formed, the site of bone or tissue damage, the condition of the damaged bone tissue, the size of a wound, type of damaged tissue the patient's age, sex, and diet, the seventy of any infection, time of administration and other ciinical factors. The dosage may vary with the type of matnx used in the reconstitution and the types of BMP proteins in the composition. Generally, systemic or mjectable administration will be initiated at a dose which is minimally effective, and the dose will be increased over a preselected time course until a positive effect is observed Subsequently, incremental increases in dosage will be made limiting such incremental increases to such levels that produce a corresponding increase in effect, while taking into account any adverse affects that may appear The addition of other known growth factors, such as IGF I (insulin like growth factor I), to the final composition, may also effect the dosage Progress can be monitored by peπodic assessment of bone or tissue growth and/or repair The progress can be monitored, for example, x-rays, histomorphometπc determinations and tetracyc ne labeling The following examples illustrate practice of the present invention in recoveπng and characteπzing human BMP- 16 and other BMP- 16-related proteins, obtaining the human proteins and expressing the proteins via recombinant techniques EXAMPLES EXAMPLE 1 Isolation of DNA DNA sequences encoding human BMP-16 and human BMP- 16-related proteins may be isolated by vaπous techniques known to those skilled in the art Based on the knowledge of BMP proteins and other proteins within the TGF-β family, it is predicted that the carboxyl-termmal portion of these molecules (mature peptide) would exhibit greater sequence conservation than the more amino-terminai portions (propeptide region) This sequence relationship between BMP proteins and other proteins within the TGF- β family enables those skilled in the art to design DNA probes from the carboxyl-terminal encoding portion (mature peptide encoding region) of these molecules which can be utilized to identify related BMP proteins and other proteins within the TGF- β family As descπbed below, the mature peptide encoding region of the muπne nodal gene can be utilized to identify BMP- 16 and BMP- 16-related proteins A DNA probe corresponding to nucleotides #1060 through #1390 of the muπne nodal gene (GenBank accession # X70514) can be radioactively labelled with " and used to screen a human genomic library, under reduced stπngency hybπdization/washing conditions, to identify recombinant clones containing sequences of the human BMP- 16 gene or sequences of other BMP- 16 related genes Human BMP- 16 One million recombinants of a human genomic library constructed in the vector λ DASH II (Stratagene catalog #945203) are plated at a density of approximately 20,000 recombinants per plate on 50 plates Duplicate nitrocellulose replicas of the recombinant bacteπophage plaques are hybπdized to the 32 P labelled 331 bp muπne nodal DNA probe (descπbed above) in standard hybndization buffer (5X SSC, 0. 1 % SDS. 5X Denhardt' s, lOOμg/mi salmon sperm DNA ) under reduced stnngency conditions (60°C for approximately 2 days). On the second day of the hybridization, the radioactively labelled muπne nodal DNA fragment containing hybndization solution is removed and the filters are washed under reduced stringency conditions (2X SSC. 0.1 % SDS at 60°C). The filters are wrapped in saran wrap and exposed to X-ray film for overnight to three days at -SOX, with the aid of an intensifying screen. The autoradiographs are developed and multiple positively hybπdizing recombinants of vaπous signal intensities are identified. These low stπngency hybndization positive clones are plaque purified. Bacteπophage plate stocks of the plaque purified recombinants are made and bacteπophage DNA is isolated. Individual positively hybridizing recombinant bacteπophage clones are examined for the presence of previously disclosed BMP sequences, or DNA sequences corresponding to other members of the TGF-β family, by hybndization to an array of ohgonucleotides representative of these previously disclosed DNA sequences. The ohgonucleotides which are used to define the previously disclosed BMP sequences and DNA sequences of other members of the TGF-β family have been immobilized to the surface of a glass chip. The template used for hybndization analysis to the immobilized ohgonucleotide array is produced in the following manner: Recombinant bacteπophage DNA deπved from positively hybridizing human genomic clones identified through the use of the muπne nodal probe (experiment described above) are subjected to specific DNA amplification. Ohgonucleotide pπmers corresponding to DNA sequences of the of the bacteπophage cloning vector λ DASH II are utilized to specifically amplify the human genomic DNA inserts of positively hybridizing recombinant clones The following ohgonucleotide pπmers are designed on the basis of the sequence of the Lambda DASH II ® genomic cloning vector (Stratagene Cloning Systems, Inc.; La Jolla, CA) and synthesized on an automated DNA synthesizer: Ohgonucleotide #1 : ACTGCGCAACTCGTGAAAGGTAGGC Ohgonucleotide #2: GAACACTCGTCCGAGAATAACGAGTGG Ohgonucleotides # 1 and #2 are utilized as pπmers to allow the specific amplification of the human genomic DNA inserts of the recombinants identified by low stπngency hybndization to the murine nodal probe or any recombinant DNA insert contained in the bacteriophage cloning vector λ DASH II The amplification reaction is performed as follows: Approximately 500 ng of puπfied recombinant bacteπophage DNA or an undetermined amount of recombinant bacteπophage DNA deπved directly from an aqueous eluate of a puπfied bacteπophage plaque is added to a reaction mixture of IX Perkm-Elmer Cetus GeneAmp® XL Buffer (catalog #N808-0180-compπsed Tπcine, Potassium Acetate Glycerol and DMSO) with the supplementation of 250 μM each deoxynucleotide tπphosphate (dATP, dGTP and dTTP), 90 μM DCTP 30 μM Fluorescem-dCTP, 1 3 mM Mg(OAc),, 40 units/ml Per in Elmer Cetus rTth DNA polymerase (catalog #N808-0180), 400 nM ohgonucleotide pπmer #1 and 400 nM ohgonucleotide pπmer #2 The reaction mixture is subjected to thermal cycling in the following manner 1 minute at 93°C for one cycle, 40 seconds at 93°C and 12 minutes at 68°C for 30 cycles, followed by 10 minutes at 65°C for one cycle Approximately lμg of the DNA which is specifically amplified by this reaction is digested with 18 milhunits of RQ1 RNase- Free DNase (Promega Corp Madison. Wl/Catalog #M6101 in 50 mM Tπs-HCl pH 7 5 10 mM MgSOj 50mg bovine serum albumin (BSAVml, and 0 1 M DTT at 37° for 90 minutes The reaction is stopped with the addition of 0 1 volumes of 0 5 M Na,EDTA The fragmentation of the specifically amplified DNA under the conditions descπbed above yields DNA fragments in the range of approximately 1500 to 50 base pairs The 1500 to 50 bp specifically amplified DNA fragments are heat denatured at 95°C for 10 minutes The fragmented denatured DNA solution is adjusted to a final concentration of 6X SSPh, 0 057c Tπton X-100 and then hybπdized to the BMP/TGF-β famiiy representative ohgonucleotide array which has been immobilized on a glass surface for a peπod of 4 hours to overnight at 37°C The hybπdized BMP TGF-β family representative ohgonucleotide array which has been immobilized on a glass surface is washed with 0 5X SSPE 0 005% Tπton X-100 and analyzed by a GeneChip 50 Scanner (Affymetπx) One of the recombinant bacteπophage clones which hybπdizes to the 329 bp muπne nodal probe is designated AHG-NR35-1 Analysis of this clone utilizing the BMP/TGF-β family ohgonucleotide array resulted in a positive hybndization pattern to a small subset of the ohgonucleotides on the glass chip array One of the ohgonucleotides defined by a positive hybndization signal was utilized to determine the DNA sequence of the region of the human genomic insert which was responsible for the oπginal hybndization signal to the muπne nodal probe The sequence of this ohgonucleotide is set forth below Ohgonucleotide #3 CTGTGAGGGCGAGTGTCC This ohgonucleotide which corresponds to nucleotides #1 173-#1 190 of the murine nodal sequence (Genbank Accession #X705 14) was utilized to perform DNA sequence analysis of the λHG-NR35- l genomic clone resulting in the identification of a portion of the human BMP- 16 sequence disclosed in this application. The bacteriophage AHG-NR35- 1 has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD ATCC under the accession #97623 on June 25. 1996. This deposit meets the requirements of the Budapest Treaty of the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purpose of Patent Procedure and Regulations thereunder. The hybridizing region of this recombinant, ΛHG-NR35- 1 , is localized to two BamHI fragments of approximately 2.1 kilobases (kb) and 4.3 kb in length. Each of these fragments are individually subcloned into the plasmid vector pGEM-3. The plasmid subclones containing the 2.1 kb and 4.3kb BamHI fragments are designated DH5α/pGEM#-NR35- l #B2 and DH5α/pGEM#-NR35- l#B 18, respectively. The plasmid subclone containing the 2.1 kb BamHI hybridizing fragment (DH5α/pGEM#-NR35- I #B2) has been deposited with the ATCC under the accession #98085 on June 25. 1 96. The plasmid subclone containing the 4.3kb BamHI hybridizing fragment (DH5 /pGEM#-NR35-l#B 18) has been deposited with the ATCC under the accession #98084 on June 25, 1996. These deposits meet the requirements of the Budapest Treaty of the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purpose of Patent Procedure and Regulations thereunder. The DNA sequence of a portion of the 2.1 kb insert of the plasmid subclone. DH5α/pGEM#-NR35-l #B2, is set forth in SEQ ID NO:3. A portion of this sequence (nucleotides #383 to # 1080) represents exon 2 of the human BMP- 16 gene as defined by comparison to exon 2 of the murine nodal gene (nucleotides #524 through # 1240 of GenBank Accession No. X70514. The DNA sequence of a portion of the 4.3kb insert of the plasmid subclone. DH5α/pGEM#-NR35- l #B 18. is set forth in SEQ ID NO:4. A portion of this sequence (nucleotides #434 to #583) represents the coding region of exon 3 of the human BMP- 16 gene as defined by comparison to the protein coding sequence of exon 3 of the murine nodal gene (nucleotides #1241 through #1390 of GenBank Accession No. X70514. Based on the knowledge of the murine nodal gene structure, the specific protein coding nucleotide sequences contained therein, and the comparisons of those sequences to sequences contained within exon 2 (SEQ ID NO:3) and exon 3 (SEQ ID NO:4) of the human BMP-16 gene which have been detailed above; one can compile a partial coding sequence for the human BMP-16 protein of the invention. This partial human BMP-16 coding sequence (from which intervening sequences/introns and other non-BMP- 16 protein encoding sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4 have been removed) is set forth in SEQ ID NOT . The compiled sequence predicted from the fusion of the coding sequences from exons 2 and 3 of the human BMP- 16 gene defines an open reading frame of 840 nucleotides (nucleotides #1 through #840 of SEQ ID NO: 1 ) which encodes 280 amino acids of the human BMP- 16 protein of the invention. The encoded 280 ammo acid BMP- 16 protein set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 includes the full mature human BMP- 16 peptide (amino acids # 1 -#1 10 of SEQ ID NO:2), as well as the C-terminal portion of the BMP- 16 propeptide (ammo acids #-170 through #-1 of SEQ ID NO:2 Based on the knowledge of other BMP proteins and other proteins within the TGF-β family, it is predicted that the human BMP- 16 precursor polypeptide would be cleaved at the multibasic sequence Arg-His-Arg-Arg in agreement with a proposed consensus proteolytic processing sequence of Arg-X-X-Arg. Cleavage of the human BMP-16 precursor polypeptide is expected to generate a 1 10 amino acid mature peptide beginning with the ammo acid His at position #1 of SEQ ID NO:2. The processing of human BMP- 16 into the mature form is expected to involve dimeπzation and removal of the N-terminal region in a manner analogous to the processing of the related protein TGF-β [Gentry et al., Molec & Cell. Biol . 8 * 4162 ( 1988). Derynck et al. Nature. 316:701 ( 1985)]. It is contemplated therefore that the mature active species of human BMP-16 compπses a homodimer of two polypeptide subunits, each subunit comprising amino acids # 1 to #1 10 of SEQ ID NO:2 with a predicted molecular weight of approximately 13,000 daltons. Further active species are contemplated comprising at least ammo acids # 10 to #1 10 of SEQ ID NO:2, thereby including the first conserved cysteine residue. As with other members of the TGF-β BMP family of proteins, the carboxyl-terminal portion of the human BMP- 16 protein exhibits greater sequence conservation than the more amino-terminal portion. The percent amino acid identity of the human BMP- 16 protein in the cysteine-πch C-terminal domain (amino acids # 10 - #1 10 of SEQ ID NO:2) to the corresponding region of human BMP proteins and other proteins within the TGF-β family is as follows: BMP-2, 42%; BMP-3, 41 c, BMP-4. 40%; BMP-5, 42%; BMP-6, 45%; BMP-7, 437c; BMP-8, 457c; BMP-9, 44%, BMP-10, 437c; BMP- 1 1 , 35%; BMP- 12. 45%; BMP- 13, 467c: BMP-15, 36%; Vg l , 44%, GDF- 1. 38%; TGF-βl , 297c; TGF-B2, 32%; TGF-63, 297c; inhibin β B , 387c; inhibin β A , 437c The human BMP-16 DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1 ), or a portion thereof, can be used as a probe to identify a human cell line or tissue which synthesizes human BMP- 16 or a human BMP- 16-related mRNA. Briefly described, RNA is extracted from a selected cell or tissue source and either electrophoresed on a formaldehyde agarose gel and transferred to nitrocellulose, or reacted with formaldehyde and spotted on nitrocellulose directly. The nitrocellulose is then hybridized to a probe derived from the coding sequence of human BMP- 16. Alternatively, the human BMP-16 sequence is used to design ohgonucleotide pπmers which will specifically amplify a portion of the human BMP- 16 or human BMP-16-related encoding sequence It is contemplated that these human BMP-16 deπved pπmers would allow one to specifically amplify corresponding human BMP- 16 or BMP- 16-related encoding sequences from mRNA, cDNA or genomic DNA templates Once a positive source has been identified by one of the above descπbed methods, mRNA is selected by o go (dT) cellulose chromatography and cDNA is synthesized and cloned in λgtlO or other λ bacteπophage vectors known to those skilled in the art, for example, λZAP by established techniques (Toole et al , supra) It is also possible to perform the ohgonucleotide pπmer directed amplification reaction, descπbed above, directly on a preestabhshed human cDNA or genomic library which has been cloned into a λ bacteπophage vector In such cases, a library which yields a specifically amplified DNA product encoding a portion of the human BMP- 16 or BMP- 16- related protein could be screened directly, utilizing the fragment of amplified human BMP-16 or BMP- 16-related encoding DNA as a probe Additional methods known to those skilled in the art mav be used to isolate other full-length cDNAs encoding human BMP- 16-related proteins, or full length cDNA clones encoding BMP-16-reiated proteins of the invention from species other than humans, particularly other mammalian species EXAMPLE 2 W-20 BIOASSAYS A Descπption of W-20 cells Use of the W-20 bone marrow stromal cells as an indicator cell line is based upon the conversion of these cells to osteoblast-hke cells after treatment with a BMP protein [Thies et al. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 5 305 ( 1990), and Thies et al Lndocππologv, 130 1318 ( 1992)] Specifically, W-20 cells are a clonal bone marrow stromal cell line deπved from adult mice by researchers in the laboratory of Dr D Nathan, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA Treatment of W-20 cells with certain BMP proteins results in ( 1 ) increased alkaline phosphatase production, (2) induction of PTH stimulated cAMP, and (3) induction of osteocalcm synthesis by the cells While (1 ) and (2) represent characteπstics associated with the osteoblast phenotype, the ability to synthesize osteocalcm is a phenotypic property only displayed by mature osteoblasts Furthermore, to date we have observed conversion of W-20 stromal cells to osteoblast-hke cells only upon treatment with BMPs In this manner, the in vitro activities displayed by BMP treated W-20 cells correlate with the in vivo bone forming activity known for BMPs Below two in vitro assays useful in compaπson of BMP activities of novel osteoinductive molecules are descπbed B W-20 Alkaline Phosphatase Assav Protocol W-20 cells are plated into 96 well tissue culture plates at a density of 10.000 cells per well in 200 μl of media (DMF with 10% heat inactivated fetal calf serum, 2 mM glutamine and 100 Units/ml penicillin + 100 μg/ l streptomycin The cells are allowed to attach overnight in a 95% air, 5% CO, incubator at 37°C The 200 μl of media is removed from each well with a multichannel pipettor and replaced with an equal volume of test sample delivered in DME with 10% heat inactivated fetal calf serum. 2 mM glutamine and 1 % penicillin-streptomycin Test substances are assayed in tπphcate The test samples and standards are allowed a 24 hour incubation peπod with the W-20 indicator cells After the 24 hours, plates are removed from the 37 °C incubator and the test media are removed from the cells The W-20 cell layers are washed 3 times with 200 μl per well of calcium/magnesium free phosphate buffered saline and these washes are discarded 50 μl of glass distilled water is added to each well and the assay plates are then placed on a dry ice/ethanol bath for quick freezing Once frozen, the assay plates are removed from the dry ice/ethanol bath and thawed at 37 C C This step is repeated 2 more times for a total of 3 freeze-thaw procedures Once complete, the membrane bound alkaline phosphatase is available for measurement 50 μl of assay mix (50 mM glycine, 0 05% Tπton X-100, 4 mM MgCl : , 5 mM p-nitrophenol phosphate. pH = 10 3) is added to each assay well and the assay plates are then incubated for 30 minutes at 37 °C in a shaking waterbath at 60 oscillations per minute At the end of the 30 minute incubation, the reaction is stopped by adding 100 μl of 0 2 N NaOH to each well and placing the assay plates on ice The spectrophotometπc absorbance for each well is read at a wavelength of 405 nanometers These values are then compared to known standards to give an estimate of the alkaline phosphatase activity in each sample For example, using known amounts of p-nitrophenol phosphate, absorbance values are generated This is shown in Table I Table I Absorbance V alues for Known Standards of P-N trophenol Phosphate P-nitrophenol phosphate umoles Mea n absorbance (405 nm) 0.000 0 0.006 0.261 +/- .024 0.012 0.521 +/- .031 0.018 0.797 +/- .063 0.024 1.074 +/- .061 0.030 1.305 +/- .083 Absorbance values for known amounts of BMPs can be determined and converted to μmoles of p-nitrophenol phosphate cleaved per unit time as shown in Table II Table II Alkaline Phosphatase Values for W-20 Cells Treating with BMP-2 BMP-2 concentration Absorbance Reading umoles substrate nε/ml 405 nmeters per hour 0 0 645 0.024 1.56 0.696 0.026 3.12 0.765 0.029 6.25 0 923 0.036 12.50 1.121 0 044 25 0 1 457 0.058 50 0 1 662 0 067 100.0 1 977 0.080 These values are then used to compare the activities of known amounts of BMP-] 6 to BMP-2 C. Osteocalcm RIA Protocol W-20 cells are plated at IO 6 cells per well in 24 well muitiwell tissue culture dishes in 2 mis of DME containing 10% heat inactivated fetal calf serum, 2 mM glutamine. The cells are allowed to attach overnight in an atmosphere of 95% air 5% C0 2 at 37°C The next day the medium is changed to DME containing 10% fetal calf serum, 2 mM glutamine and the test substance in a total volume of 2 ml Each test substance is administered to tπphcate wells The test substances are incubated with the W-20 cells for a total of 96 hours with replacement at 48 hours by the same test nnedias At the end of 96 hours, 50 μl of the test media is removed from each well and assayed for osteocalcm production using a radioimmunoassay for mouse osteocalcm. The details of the assay are descπbed in the kit manufactured by Biomedical Technologies Inc., 378 Page Street, Stoughton, MA 02072. Reagents for the assay are found as product numbers BT-431 (mouse osteocalcm standard), BT-432 (Goat anti-mouse Osteocalcm), BT-431R (lodinated mouse osteocalcm), BT-415 (normal goat serum) and BT- 414 (donkey anti goat IgG) The RIA for osteocalcm synthesized by W-20 cells in response to BMP treatment is earned out as descπbed in the protocol provided by the manufacturer The values obtained for the test samples are compared to values for known standards of mouse osteocalcm and to the amount of osteocalcm produced by W-20 cells in response to challenge with known amounts of BMP 2 The for BMP-2 induced osteocalcm synthesis by W-20 cells is shown in Table III Table III Osteocalcm Synthesis by W-20 Cells BMP-2 Concentration nι?/m! Osteocalcm Synthesis r ig/well 0 0 8 2 0 9 4 0 8 8 2 2 16 2 7 31 3 2 62 5 1 125 6 5 250 8 2 500 9 4 1000 10 0 EXAMPLE 3 ROSEN MODIFIED SAMPATH-REDDI ASSAY A modified version ot the rat bone formation assay descπbed in Sampath and Reddi Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 80 6591 -6595 ( 1983 ) is used to evaluate bone and/or cartilage and/or other connective tissue activity of BMP proteins This modified assay is herein called the Rosen-modified Sampath-Reddi assay The ethanol precipitation step of the Sampath Reddi procedure is replaced by dialyz g (if the composition is a solution) or diafilteπng (if the composition is a suspension) the fraction to be assayed against water The solution or suspension is then equilibrated to 0 1 % TFA The resulting solution is added to 20 mg of rat matπx A mock rat matπx sample not treated with the protein serves as a control This mateπal is frozen and lyophi zed and the resulting powder enclosed in #5 gelatin capsules The capsules are implanted subcutaneously in the abdominal thoracic area of 21 -49 day old male Long Evans rats The implants are removed after 7-14 days Half of each implant is used for alkaline phosphatase analysis [see, Reddi et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci . 69 1601 ( 1972)] The other half of each implant is fixed and processed for histological analysis. 1 μm glycolmethacrylate sections are stained with Von Kossa and acid fuschin to score the amount of induced bone and cartilage and other connective tissue formation present in each implant. The terms +1 through +5 represent the area of each histological section of an implant occupied by new bone and/or cartilage cells and matπx. A score of +5 indicates that greater than 50% of the implant is new bone and/or cartilage produced as a direct result of protein in the implant. A score of +4, +3, +2, and + 1 would indicate that greater than 40%, 30%, 20% and 10% respectively of the implant contains new cartilage and/or bone. Alternatively, the implants are inspected for the appearance of tissue resembling embryonic tendon, which is easily recognized by the presence of dense bundles of fibroblasts oπented in the same plane and packed tightly together. [Tendon/ligament-like tissue is descπbed, for example, in Ham and Cormack. Histology (JB Lippincott Co. ( 1979), pp. 367- 369. the disclosure of which is hereby incoφorated by reference]. These findings may be reproduced in additional assays in which tendon/ligament-hke tissues are observed in the BMP- 16-related protein containing implants. The BMP- 16-related proteins of this invention may be assessed for activity on this assay. EXAMPLE 4 Expression of BMP- 16 In order to produce murine. human or other mammalian BMP- 16-related proteins, the DNA encoding it is transferred into an appropπate expression vector and introduced into mammalian cells or other preferred eukaryotic or prokaryotic hosts by conventional genetic engineeπng techniques. The preferred expression system for biologically active recombinant human BMP- 16 is contemplated to be stably transformed mammalian cells. One skilled in the art can construct mammalian expression vectors by employing the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3, or other DNA sequences encoding BMP- 16- related proteins or other modified sequences and known vectors, such as pCD [Okayama et al., Mol. Cell Biol.. 2: 161 -170 ( 1982)], pJL3, pJL4 [Gough et al.. EMBO J . 4:645-653 ( 1985)] and pMT2 CXM. The mammalian expression vector pMT2 CXM is a derivative of p91023(b) (Wong et al.. Science 228:810-815. 1985) differing from the latter in that it contains the ampicil n resistance gene in place of the tetracycline resistance gene and further contains a Xhol site for insertion of cDNA clones. The functional elements of pMT2 CXM have been descπbed (Kaufman, R.J., 1985, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:689-693) and include the adenovirus VA genes, the SV40 origin of replication including the 72 bp enhancer, the adenovirus major late promoter including a 5' splice site and the majority of the adenovirus tripartite leader sequence present on adenovirus late RNAs. a 3' splice acceptor site, a DHFR insert, the SV40 early polyadenylation site (SV40), and pBR322 sequences needed for propagation in E coh Plasmid pMT2 CXM is obtained by EcoRI digestion of pMT2-VWF, which has been deposited with the Ameπcan Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Rockville. MD (USA) under accession number ATCC 67122 EcoRI digestion excises the cDNA insert present in pMT2- VWF, yielding pMT2 in linear form which can be ligated and used to transform E coh HB 101 or DH-5 to ampicilhn resistance Plasmid pMT2 DNA can be prepared by conventional methods pMT2 CXM is then constructed using loopout/m mutagenesis [Moπnaga, et al.. Biotechnology 84 636 ( 1984) This removes bases 1075 to 1 145 relative to the Hind III site near the S V40 origin of replication and enhancer sequences of pMT2 In addition it inserts the following sequence 5' PO-CATGGGCAGCTCGAG-3' at nucleotide 1 145 This sequence contains the recognition site for the restnction endonuciease Xho I A deπvative of pMT2CXM, termed pMT23 contains recognition sites for the restnction endonucleases Pstl. Eco RI. Sail and Xhol Plasmid pMT2 CXM and pMT23 DNA may be prepared by conventional methods pEMC2β l denved from pMT21 may also be suitable in practice of the invention pMT21 is deπved from pMT2 which is deπved from pMT2-VWF As descπbed above EcoRI digestion excises the cDNA insert present in pMT-VWF, yielding pMT2 in linear form which can be ligated and used to transform E_ Coh HB 101 or DH-5 to ampicilhn resistance Plasmid pMT2 DNA can be prepared by conventional methods pMT21 is deπved from pMT2 through the following two modifications First, 76 bp of the 5 untranslated region of the DHFR cDNA including a stretch of 19 G residues from G/C tailing for cDNA cloning is deleted In this process, a Xhol site is inserted to obtain the following sequence immediately upstream from DHFR 5' CTGCAGGCGAGCCTGAATTCCTCGAGCCATCATG-3' Pstl Eco RI Xhol Second, a unique Clal site is introduced by digestion with EcoRV and Xbal. treatment with Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I, and gation to a Clal linker (CATCGATG) This deletes a 250 bp segment from the adenovirus associated RNA (VAI) region but does not interfere with VAI RNA gene expression or function pMT21 is digested with EcoRI and Xhol. and used to deπve the vector pEMC2B 1 A portion of the EMCV leader is obtained from pMT2-ECATl [S K Jung, et al. J_ Virol 63 1651-1660 ( 1989)] by digestion with Eco RI and Pstl, resulting in a 2752 bp fragment This fragment is digested with TaqI yielding an Eco RI-TaqI fragment of 508 bp which is purified by electrophoresis on low melting agarose gel A 68 bp adapter and its complementary strand are synthesized with a 5' TaqI protruding end and a 3' Xhol protruding end which has the following sequence 5 -CGAGGTTAAAAAACGTCTAGGCCCCCCGAACCACGGGGACGTGGTTTTCCTTT TaqI GAAAAACACGATTGC- Xhol This sequence matches the EMC virus leader sequence from nucleotide 763 to 827 It aiso changes the ATG at position 10 within the EMC virus leader to an ATT and is followed by a Xhol site A three way gation of the pMT2I Eco Rl-lόhol fragment, the EMC virus EcoRI- Taql fragment, and the 68 bp ohgonucleotide adapter TaqI-16hoI adapter resulting in the vector pEMC2βl This vector contains the SV40 oπgin of replication and enhancer, the adenovirus major late promoter, a cDNA copy of the majoπty of the adenovirus tπpartite leader sequence, a small hybπd intervening sequence, an SV40 polyadenylation signal and the adenovirus VA I gene, DHFR and β-lactamase markers and an EMC sequence, in appropπate relationships to direct the high level expression of the desired cDNA in mammalian cells The construction of vectors may involve modification of the BMP- 16-related DN.A. sequences For instance, BMP- 16 cDNA can be modified by removing the non-coding nucleotides on the 5' and 3' ends of the coding region The deleted non-coding nucleotides may or may not be replaced by other sequences known to be beneficial for expression These vectors are transformed into appropπate host cells for expression of BMP- 16-related proteins Additionally, the sequence of SEQ ID NO 1 or other sequences encoding BMP- 16-related proteins can be manipulated to express a mature BMP- 16-related protein by deleting BMP- 16 encoding propeptide sequences and replacing them with sequences encoding the complete propeptides of other BMP proteins. One skilled in the art can manipulate the sequences of SEQ ID NO 1 by eliminating or replacing the mammalian regulatory sequences flanking the coding sequence with bacteπai sequences to create bacteπai vectors for intracellular or extracellular expression by bacteπai cells For example, the coding sequences could be further manipulated (e g ligated to other known linkers or modified by deleting non-coding sequences therefrom or alteπng nucleotides therein by other known techniques) The modified BMP 16-related coding sequence could then be inserted into a known bacteπai vector using procedures such as descπbed in T Taniguchi et al . Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 77 5230-5233 ( 1980) This exemplary bacteπai vector could then be transformed into bacteπai host cells and a BMP- 16-related protein expressed thereby For a strategy for producing extracellular expression of BMP- 16-related proteins in bacteπai cells, see, e g European patent application EPA 177,343 Similar manipulations can be performed for the construction of an insect vector [See, e g procedures descπbed in published European patent application 155 476] for expression in insect cells A yeast vector could also be constructed employing yeast regulatory sequences for intracellular or extracellular expression of the factors of the present invention by yeast cells [See, e g , procedures descπbed in published PCT application WO86/00639 and European patent application EPA 123.289] A method for producing high levels of a BMP- 16-related protein of the invention in mammalian cells may involve the construction ot cells containing multiple copies of the heterologous BMP- 16-related gene The heterologous gene is linked to an amphfiable marker, e g the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene for which cells containing increased gene copies can be selected for propagation in increasing concentrations of methotrexate (MTX) according to the procedures of Kaufman and Sharp, J Mol Biol 1 9 601 -629 ( 1982) This approach can be employed with a number of different cell types For example a plasmid containing a DNA sequence for a BMP 16-related protein of the invention in operative association with other plasmid sequences enabling expression thereof and the DHFR expression plasmid pAdA26SV(A)3 [Kaufman and Sharp, Mol Cell Biol , 2 1304 ( 1982)] can be co-introduced into DHFR deficient CHO cells DUKX-BII, bv vaπous methods including calcium phosphate coprecipitation and transtection electroporation or protoplast fusion DHFR expressing transformants are selected for growth in alpha media with dialyzed fetal calf serum, and subsequently selected for amplification by growth in increasing concentrations of MTX (e g sequential steps in 0 02, 0 2 1 0 and 5uM MTX) as descπbed in Kaufman et al , Mol Cell Biol , 5 1750 ( 1983) Transformants are cloned, and biologically active BMP-16 expression is monitored by the Rosen-modified Sampath-Reddi rat bone formation assay descπbed above in Example 3 BMP- 16 protein expression should increase with increasing levels of MTX resistance BMP- 16 polypeptides are characteπzed using standard techniques known in the art such as pulse labeling with [35S] methionine or cvsteine and polyacrylanrude gel electrophoresis Similar procedures can be followed to produce other related BMP- 16-related proteins EXAMPLE 5 Biological Activity of Expressed BMP- 16 To measure the biological activity of the expressed BMP- 16-related proteins obtained in Example 4 above, the proteins are recovered from the cell culture and puπfied by isolating the BMP- 16-related proteins from other proteinaceous mateπals with which they are co- produced as well as from other contaminants The puπfied protein may be assayed in accordance with the rat bone formation assay described in Example 3 Puπfication is earned out using standard techniques known to those skilled in the art Protein analysis is conducted using standard techniques such as SDS-PAGE acrylamide [Laemmh. Nature 227 680 (1970)] stained with silver [Oakley, et al Anal Biochem J05 361 ( 1980)1 and by immunoblot [Towbin, et al Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 76 4350 ( 1979)] EXAMPLE 6 Using Northern analysis, BMP-16 and BMP- 16-related proteins can be tested for their effects on vaπous cell lines Suitable cell lines include cell lines deπved from El 3 mouse limb buds After 10 days of treatment with BMP- 16 or BMP- 16-reiated protein, the cell phenotype is examined histologically for indications of tissue differentiation In addition. Northern analysis of mRNA from BMP- 16 or BMP-16-related protein treated cells can be performed for vaπous markers including one or more of the following markers for bone, cartilage and/or tendon/ligament, as descπbed in Table IV Table IV Marker Bone Cartilage Tendon/Ligament Osteocaicin + - - Alkaline Phosphatase + - - Proteoglycan Core Protein +/- 1 + +- Collagen Type I + + + Collagen Type II +/-' + + * - Decoπn + + + Elastin +/- 3 9 + 1 - Marker seen early, marker not seen as mature bone tissue forms 2- Marker depends upon site of tendon strongest at bone interface 3- Marker seen at low levels EXAMPLE 7 Embryonic Stem Cell Assay In order to assay the effects of the BMP 16 proteins of the present invention, it is possible to assay the growth and differentiation effects in vitro on a number of available embryonic stem cell lines One such cell line is ES-E14TG2, which is available from the Ameπcan Type Culture Collection in Rockvilie, Md In order to conduct the assay, cells may be propagated in the presence of 100 units of LIF to keep them in an undifferentiated state Assays are setup by first removing the LIF and aggregating the cells in suspension, in what is known as embryoid bodies After 3 days the embryoid bodies are plated on gelatin coated plates ( 12 well plates for PCR analysis, 24 well plates for lmmunocytochemistry) and treated with the proteins to be assayed Cells are supplied with nutnents and treated with the protein factor every 2-3 days Cells may be adapted so that assays may be conducted in media supplemented with 15% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) or with CDM defined media containing much lower amounts of FBS At the end of the treatment peπod (ranging from 7-21 days) RNA is harvested from the ceils and analyzed by quantitative multiplex PCR for the following markers Brachv n, a mesodermal marker, AP-2. an ectodermal marker, and HNF-3 an endodermal marker Through lmmunocytochemistry, it is also possible to detect the differentiation of neuronal cells (glia and neurons), muscle cells (cardiomyocytes, skeletal and smooth muscle), and vaπous other phenotype markers such as proteogiycan core protein (cartilage), and cytokeratins (epidermis) Since these cells have a tendency to differentiate autonomously when LIF is removed, the results are always quantitated by companson to an untreated control The foregoing descπptions detail presently preferred embodiments of the present invention Numerous modifications and vanations in practice thereof are expected to occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of these descπptions Those modifications and vanations are beheved to be encompassed within the claims appended hereto SEQUENCE LISTING (1) GENERAL INFORMATION: (i) APPLICANT: CELESTE, ANTHONY J. MURRAY, ELIZABETH L. (ii) TITLE OF INVENTION: BMP- 16 COMPOSITIONS (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 4 (iv) CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS: (A) ADDRESSEE: GENETICS INSTITUTE, INC. (B) STREET: 87 CAMBRIDGEPARK DRIVE (C) CITY: CAMBRIDGE (D) STATE: MASSACHUSETTS ( E ) COUNTRY : USA (F) ZIP: 02140 (v) COMPUTER READABLE FORM: (A) MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk (B) COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible (C) OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS (D) SOFTWARE: Patentin Release #1.0, Version #1.25 (VI) CURRENT APPLICATION DATA: (A) APPLICATION NUMBER: (B) FILING DATE: (C) CLASSIFICATION: (viii) ATTORNEY/AGENT INFORMATION: (A) NAME: LAZAR, STEVEN R (B) REGISTRATION NUMBER: 32,618 (C) REFERENCE/ DOCKET NUMBER: GI 5275 (ix) TELECOMMUNICATION INFORMATION: (A) TELEPHONE: (617) 498-8260 (B) TELEFAX: (617) 876-5851 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:l: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 843 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS : single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: sig_peptide (B) LOCATION: 1..510 ( ix ) FEATURE : (A) NAME/KEY: ma _peptide (B) LOCATION: 511..840 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 1..840 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:l: GTG GAT GGG CAG AAC TGG ACG TTT GCT TTT GAC TTC TCC TTC CTG AGC 48 Val Asp Gly Gin Asn Trp Thr Phe Ala Phe Asp Phe Ser Phe Leu Ser -170 -165 -160 -155 CAA CAA GAG GAT CTG GCA TGG GCT GAG CTC CGG CTG CAG CTG TCC AGC 96 Gin Gin Glu Asp Leu Ala Trp Ala Glu Leu Arg Leu Gin Leu Ser Ser -150 -145 -140 CCT GTG GAC CTC CCC ACT GAG GGC TCA CTT GCC ATT GAG ATT TTC CAC 144 Pro Val Asp Leu Pro Thr Glu Gly Ser Leu Ala He Glu He Phe His -135 -130 -125 CAG CCA AAG CCC GAC ACA GAG CAG GCT TCA GAC AGC TGC TTA GAG CGG 192 Gin Pro Lys Pro Asp Thr Glu Gin Ala Ser Asp Ser Cys Leu Glu Arg -120 -115 -110 TTT CAG ATG GAC CTA TTC ACT GTC ACT TTG TCC CAG GTC ACC TTT TCC 240 Phe Gin Met Asp Leu Phe Thr Val Thr Leu Ser Gin Val Thr Phe Ser -105 -100 -95 TTG GGC AGC ATG GTT TTG GAG GTG ACC AGG CCT CTC TCC AAG TGG CTG 288 Leu Gly Ser Met Val Leu Glu Val Thr Arg Pro Leu Ser Lys Trp Leu -90 -85 -80 -75 AAG CGC CCT GGG GCC CTG GAG AAG CAG ATG TCC AGG GTA GCT GGA GAG 336 Lys Arg Pro Gly Ala Leu Glu Lys Gin Met Ser Arg Val Ala Gly Glu -70 -65 -60 TGC TGG CCG CGG CCC CCC ACA CCG CCT GCC ACC AAT GTG CTC CTT ATG 384 - "■ ys Trp Pro Arg Pro Pro Thr Pro Pro Ala Thr Asn Val Leu Leu Met -55 -50 -45 CTC TAC TCC AAC CTC TCG CAG GAG CAG AGG CAG CTG GGT GGG TCC ACC 432 Leu Tyr Ser Asn Leu Ser Gin Glu Gin Arg Gin Leu Gly Gly Ser Thr -40 -35 -30 TTG CTG TGG GAA GCC GAG AGC TCC TGG CGG GCC CAG GAG GGA CAG CTG 480 Leu Leu Trp Glu Ala Glu Ser Ser Trp Arg Ala Gin Glu Gly Gin Leu -25 -20 -15 TCC TGG GAG TGG GGC AAG AGG CAC CGT CGA CAT CAC TTG CCA GAC AGA 528 Ser Trp Glu Trp Gly Lys Arg His Arg Arg His His Leu Pro Asp Arg -10 -5 1 5 AGT CAA CTG TGT CGG AAG GTC AAG TTC CAG GTG GAC TTC AAC CTG ATC 576 Ser Gin Leu Cys Arg Lys Val Lys Phe Gin Val Asp Phe Asn Leu He 10 15 20 GGA TGG GGC TCC TGG ATC ATC TAC CCC AAG CAG TAC AAC GCC TAT CGC 624 Gly Trp Gly Ser Trp He He Tyr Pro Lys Gin Tyr Asn Ala Tyr Arg 25 30 35 TGT GAG GGC GAG TGT CCT AAT CCT GTT GGG GAG GAG TTT CAT CCG ACC 672 Cys Glu Gly Glu Cys Pro Asn Pro Val Gly Glu Glu Phe His Pro Thr 40 45 50 AAC CAT GCA TAC ATC CAG AGT CTG CTG AAA CGT TAC CAG CCC CAC CGA 720 Asn His Ala Tyr He Gin Ser Leu Leu Lys Arg Tyr Gin Pro His Arg 55 60 65 70 GTC CCT TCC ACT TGT TGT GCC CCA GTG AAG ACC AAG CCG CTG AGC ATG 768 Val Pro Ser Thr Cys Cys Ala Pro Val Lys Thr Lys Pro Leu Ser Met 75 80 85 CTG TAT GTG GAT AAT GGC AGA GTG CTC CTA GAT CAC CAT AAA GAC ATG 816 Leu Tyr Val Asp Asn Gly Arg Val Leu Leu Asp His His Lys Asp Met 90 95 100 ATC GTG GAA GAA TGT GGG TGC CTC TGA 843 He Val Glu Glu Cys Gly Cys Leu 105 110 >2 ) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO : 2 U) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS. (A) LENGTH 280 ammo acids (B) TYPE ammo acid (D) TOPOLOGY linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE- protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO : 2. Val Asp Gly Gin Asn Trp Thr Phe Ala Phe Asp Phe Ser Phe Leu Ser -170 -165 -160 -155 Gin Gin Glu Asp Leu Ala Trp Ala Glu Leu Arg Leu Gin Leu Ser Ser -150 -145 -140 Pro Val Asp Leu Pro Thr Glu Gly Ser Leu Ala He Glu He Phe His -135 -130 -125 Gin Pro Lys Pro Asp Thr Glu Gin Ala Ser Asp Ser Cys Leu Glu Arg -120 -115 -110 Phe Gin Met Asp Leu Phe Thr Val Thr Leu Ser Gin Val Thr Phe Ser -105 -100 -95 Leu Gly Ser Met Val Leu Glu Val Thr Arg Pro Leu Ser Lys Trp Leu -90 -85 -80 -75 Lys Arg Pro Gly Ala Leu Glu Lys Gin Met Ser Arg Val Ala Gly Glu -70 -65 -60 Cys Trp Pro Arg Pro Pro Thr Pro Pro Ala Thr Asn Val Leu Leu Met -55 -50 -45 Leu Tyr Ser Asn Leu Ser Gin Glu Gin Arg Gin Leu Gly Gly Ser Thr -40 -35 -30 Leu Leu Trp Glu Ala Glu Ser Ser Trp Arg Ala Gin Glu Gly Gin Leu -25 -20 -15 Ser Trp Glu Trp Gly Lys Arg His Arg Arg His His Leu Pro Asp Arg -10 -5 1 5 Ser Gin Leu Cys Arg Lys Val Lys Phe Gin Val Asp Phe Asn Leu He 10 15 20 Gly Trp Gly Ser Trp He He Tyr Pro Lys Gin Tyr Asn Ala Tyr Arg 25 30 35 Cys Glu Gly Glu Cys Pro Asn Pro Val Gly Glu Glu Phe His Pro Thr 40 45 50 Asn His Ala Tyr He Gin Ser Leu Leu Lys Arg Tyr Gin Pro His Arg 55 60 65 70 Val Pro Ser Thr Cys Cys Ala Pro Val Lys Thr Lys Pro Leu Ser Met 75 80 85 Leu Tyr Val Asp Asn Gly Arg Val Leu Leu Asp His His Lys Asp Met 90 95 100 He Val Glu Glu Cys Gly Cys Leu 105 110 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 3: (l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS. (A) LENGTH. 2003 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY linear (n) MOLECULE TYPE. DNA (genomic) (XI) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: GGGGAGGGGG AGATGCAATT CATCAACATA TCCATGGACC NTCTTCTAGG ATGTCCAAGT 60 TATCTTGGGA AGGGGGGATT GGAAGAACAG TAATTTCGGA GTGTGGGTCT TGGCAGTTGG 120 GCAAATCCAG GTTTAAGTCT TGGCTCTGCC ACCTTCCAAG AATGACACCT TGGTCAGATC 180 TTTTAACCAC ACTGAGCCTC AGTTTTCCTC ATCTCTAAAA GGGACTCGAA AATCTTACCA 240 ACTCATAGAG TTGGGGTGAG AATTCGAAGG TAATTCTATA TAAGGTAAGG CCTCCAGCAA 300 GAGCTATGGT GGTTGTGACA CTGACTGAGG CTGGGGGAGG CCCTCACTCA CCCTCCTTCC 360 TTCTTGGTTT TCTCCTACCC AGATGTGGCA GTGGATGGGC AGAACTGGAC GTTTGCTTTT 420 GACTTCTCCT TCCTGAGCCA ACAAGAGGAT CTGGCATGGG CTGAGCTCCG GCTGCAGCTG 480 TCCAGCCCTG TGGACCTCCC CACTGAGGGC TCACTTGCCA TTGAGATTTT CCΛCCAGCCA 540 AAGCCCGACA CAGAGCAGGC TTCAGACAGC TGCTTAGAGC GGTTTCAGAT GGACCTATTC 600 ACTGTCACTT TGTCCCAGGT CACCTTTTCC TTGGGCAGCA TGGTTTTGGA GGTGACCAGG 660 CCTCTCTCCA AGTGGCTGAA GCGCCCTGGG GCCCTGGAGA AGCAGATGTC CAGGGTAGCT 720 GGAGAGTGCT GGCCGCGGCC CCCCACACCG CCTGCCACCA ATGTGCTCCT TATGCTCTAC 780 TCCAACCTCT CGCAGGAGCA GAGGCAGCTG GGTGGGTCCA CCTTGCTGTG GGAAGCCGAG 840 AGCTCCTGGC GGGCCCAGGA GGGACAGCTG TCCTGGGAGT GGGGCAAGAG GCACCGTCGA 900 CATCACTTGC CAGACAGAAG TCAACTGTGT CGGAAGGTCA AGTTCCAGGT GGACTTCAAC 960 CTGATCGGAT GGGGCTCCTG GATCATCTAC CCCAAGCAGT ACAACGCCTA TCGCTGTGAG 1020 GGCGAGTGTC CTAATCCTGT TGGGGAGGAG TTTCATCCGA CCAACCATGC ATACATCCAG 1080 GTGGGATGCC AGGCGTGAGG GGGAGGGGAG GCAGTAAGCT GGCCTTGGGG GΛCAGGGCTC 1140 TAGCTTTGCT ATTAAATGAC TATGTTCCTG TATTCACAGT TACTCAAGCA CCTCCAATGT 1200 ACCAGGATCC TGTGCTAGGT ACCAGGCATG TAGAGATGAC CGAGTGTAAC ATCCTTATAG 1260 AGCCTGTATG GGGTCATGCG TCACTGGGTA GCCTTGAACA CATTGTTTCC CTGGGACTTT 1320 ATCCTTGTCT TTCATAAAAT TAGGGGGTGG GGGTAGACCA GAGGGTCTCA GCACTTCCCT 1380 AGCCCTGACA TTCTAGGAAA GGAAGAATCT GGACTTTGGG GACAGGCAGG CCTGCATTTG 1440 ACTCCTCATT AGCTGTGTGA TACTGTTTAG GTTGCTTAAT CTCAAGCTTC AGTTTTTCCA 1500 CCTGTAAGGA TGAGGGAGGG CAATGCCATA TTTCAGAGGG GATGCTGTAG GGGTTAATGA 1560 GATGACATGC ACATGGCATG TAAAGCAGTT GGTAGGTAAC AGGCATGTTT GGCTGCATTA 1620 TGGGGCCACG GTTGGAATCA CACTGTTCCA GCCACAGTAT TTTGGTTGAG AATTGACTAC 1680 CCATTCTACA GAAGTAGACA AGGCCAGCCA GGTGCGGTGG CACATGCCTG AAATCCCAAC 1740 ACTTTGGGAG GCTGAGGTGG GCGGATCACC TGAGGTCAGG AGTTCGAGAC CAGCCTGACC 1800 AACATGGTGA CACCCCGTCT CTACTAAAAA TACAAAAATC AGCCGGGTGT TGTGGCACAT 1860 GCCTGTAATC CCAGCTACTC GGGAGGCTGA GGCAGGAGAA TCACTTGAAC CCGGGAGGCA 1920 GAGATTGCAG TGAGCCGTGA TCAAGACCAC TGCACTCCAG CCTGGGCAAC AGAGCGAACT 1980 CCATCTCAAA AAACAAGAAA AAA 2003 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 4: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 1184 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (XI) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO : : ATCACCTGAG CCCGGGAGGT TGAGGATGCA GTGAGCTGTG ATCAACACCA CTGCACTCCA 60 GCCTGGGCAA CAGAGCAAGA CCATCTCAAA AAAGAAAAAA AAATTGGTAT TCCCTTTAGA 120 CTAGAATAAT AGGAGAACAT AAAAATTAGC TACCACTTAA AAAAAAAATT AGCTACTACT 180 CTACCCAGAT ACATGTAATT TTTTGAATCT GTTTAAAGGC TGTTTTCACA AAACAAGCAC 240 AGAGCTAAAG GTAGTTTAGA CATTAGAGTT CATGATATAT TGGCAAGCTA ATTCCTTTAT 300 GAAAATAATT TTCTGCTATT TTTGCACTCA GGAACTGACT TTAACTCCGT AACTTTTTTA 360 CTCTTTACCC AGAAATACTA TTCTGACCTG CCCATCAGGA TGTGAATTGA CACACCCTTC 420 CTTTCCTTTA CAGAGTCTGC TGAAACGTTA CCAGCCCCAC CGAGTCCCTT CCACTTGTTG 480 TGCCCCAGTG AAGACCAAGC CGCTGAGCAT GCTGTATGTG GATAATGGCA GAGTGCTCCT 540 AGATCACCAT AAAGACATGA TCGTGGAAGA ATGTGGGTGC CTCTGATGAC ATCCTGGAGG 600 GAGACTGGAT TTGCCTGCAC TCTGGAAGGC TGGGAAACTC CTGGAAGACA TGATAACCAT 660 CTAATCCAGT AAGGAGAAAC AGAGAGGGGC AAAGTTGCTC TGCCCACCAG AACTGAAGAG 720 GAGGGGCTGC CCACTCTGTA AATGAAGGGC TCAGTGGAGT CTGGCCAAGC ACAGAGGCTG 780 CTGTCAGGAA GAGGGAGGAA GAAGCCTGTG CAGGGGGCTG GCTGGATGTT CTCTTTACTG 840 AAAAGACAGT GGCAAGGAAA AGCACAAGTG CATGAGTTCT TTACTGGATT TTTTAAAAAC 900 CTGTGAACCC CCCGAAACTG TATGTGAAAG TTGAGACATA TGTGCATGTA TTTTGGAGGT 960 GGGATGAAGT CACCTATAGC TTTCATGTAT TCTCCAAAGT AGTCTGTGTG TGACCTGTCC 1020 CCCTCCCCAA AGATTAAGGA TCACTGTATA GATTAAAAAG AGTCCGTCAA TCTCATTGCC 1080 TCAGGCTGGG TTGGGGGAAC CCCACAGCTT TCTGGCTGGC CAGTGGCAAT CTACTGGCCT 1140 TGTCCAGAGG CTCACTGGAG TGGTTCTCTG CTAATGAGCT GTAC 1184

Claims: What is claimed is 1. An isolated DNA molecule compπsing a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of * (a) nucleotides # 1 . 51 1 or 538 to #837 or 840 of SEQ ID NO: 1 . (b) nucleotides encoding amino acids #- 170, 1 or 10 to #109 or 1 10 of SEQ ID NO:2; and (c) naturally occumng human allelic sequences and equivalent degenerative codon sequences of (a) or (b). 2. A host cell transformed with the DNA sequence of claim 1 3. A vector compnsing a DNA molecule of claim 1 in operative association with an expression control sequence therefor. 4. A host cell transformed with the vector of claim 3 5. An isolated DNA molecule comprising a DNA sequence consisting of nucleotides # 51 1 to #840 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 6. A vector comprising a DNA molecule of claim 5 in operative association with an expression control sequence therefor. 7. A host cell transformed with the vector of claim 6 8. A method for producing a puπfied human bone morphogenetic protein- 16 (BMP- 16) protein, said method comprising the steps of: (a) cultuπng a host cell transformed with a DNA molecule according to claim 1 , and (b) recoveπng and purifying said human BMP- 16 protein from the culture medium. 9. The method of claim 8. wherein said host cell is transformed with a DNA molecule compπsing a DNA coding sequence consisting of nucleotide # 51 1 to #840 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 10. The method of claim 9. wherein said host cell is a mammalian cell and the DNA molecule further compπses a DNA sequence encoding a propeptide from a member of the TGF-β superfamily of proteins, said DNA sequence encoding a propeptide being linked in proper reading frame to the DNA coding sequence 1 1. A purified bone morphogenetic protein- 16 (BMP- 16) polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence from amino acid # 1 to # 1 10 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. 12. A purified BMP- 16 polypeptide of claim 1 1 wherein said polypeptide is a dimer and wherein at least one subunit comprises the amino acid sequence from amino acid # 1 to # 1 10 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 13 A puπfied bone moφhogenetic protein- 16 (BMP- 16) polypeptide produced by the steps of (a) cultuπng a cell transformed with a DNA molecule according to claim 5. and (b) recovering and puπfying from said culture medium a polypeptide compπsing the amino acid sequence from amino acid # 1 to amino acid # 1 10 of SEQ ID NO 2 14 A puπfied bone moφhogenetic protein- 16 (BMP- 16) polypeptide according to claim 12, wherein said polypeptide is a dimer compπsing two subunits, wherein one subunit compπses the amino acid sequence from ammo acid #1 to amino acid #1 10 of SEQ ID NO 2, and one subunit compπses an amino acid sequence for a bone moφhogenetic protein selected from the group consisting of BMP- 1 , BMP-2, BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6, BMP-7, BMP-8, BMP-9 BMP- 10, BMP-1 1. BMP-12, BMP-13, and BMP-15 15 A chimeπc DNA molecule compπsing a DNA sequence encoding a propeptide from a member of the TGF-β superfamily of proteins linked in frame to a DNA sequence encoding a bone moφhogenetic protein- 16 (BMP- 16) polypeptide, said BMP- 16 polypeptide compπsing amino acid # 1 to # 1 10 of SEQ ID NO 2 16 Antibodies to a puπfied BMP- 16 protein according to claim 12

Inventors: CELESTE ANTHONY J, MURRAY BETH L, CELESTE, ANTHONY, J., MURRAY, BETH, L.
Applicants: GENETICS INST, GENETICS INSTITUTE, INC.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: C12N15
IPC codes: A61K38, A61P1, A61P19, A61P43, C07K14, C07K16, C12N1, C12N5, C12N15, C12P21