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.

As proteínas BMP-16 purified e os processos para produzi-los são divulgados. As moléculas do DNA que codificam as proteínas BMP-16 são divulgadas também. As proteínas podem ser usadas no tratamento do osso, o cartilage, os outros defeitos do tecido conexivo e os disorders, including o tendon, o ligament e o meniscus, em reparo healing e relacionado da ferida do tecido, as.well.as para o tratamento dos disorders e os defeitos aos tecidos que incluem o epidermis, nervo, músculo, including o músculo cardiac, e os outros tecidos e feridas, e os órgãos tais como o tecido do fígado, do pulmão, o cardiac, do pancreas e do kidney. As proteínas podem também ser úteis para a indução do crescimento e/ou o differentiation de undifferentiated pilhas embryonic e de haste.