T; nonetheless, when overexpressed as recombinant proteins, most BMPs are active. Although noncovalently linked with their GF right after secretion, the P2X3 Receptor Source prodomains of most BMPs usually do not bind strongly adequate to prevent GF from binding to receptors and signaling (8, 9). To far better understand such differences amongst members of the TGF- family members, we examinearmed, ring-like conformation of pro-TGF-1 (10), crystal structures of natively glycosylated pro-BMP9 reveal an unexpected, open-armed conformation (Fig. 1 A and B and Table S1). All damaging stain EM class averages show an open-armed conformation for pro-BMP9 (Fig. 1C and Fig. S1) plus a related, though significantly less homogenous, open-armed conformation for proBMP7 (Fig. 1D and Fig. S2). Crystal structure experimental electron density is great (Fig. S3) and permits us to trace the comprehensive structure of each pro-BMP9 arm domain (residues 63258; Fig. 1E). As in pro-TGF-1, the arm domain has two -sheets that only partially overlap. Hydrophobic, nonoverlapping portions in the -sheets are covered by meandering loops plus the 4-helix (Fig. 1 E and F). Comparison of pro-BMP9 and pro-TGF-1 arm domains defines a conserved core containing two four-stranded -sheets along with the 4-helix (labeled in black in Fig. 1 E and F). Among the BMP9 arm domain -sheets joins a finger-like -sheet in the GF to form a super -sheet (Fig. 1 A and G). Every single GF monomer includes a hand-like shape. The two BMP9 GF hands SignificanceBone morphogenetic protein (BMP) activity is regulated by prodomains. Here, structures of BMP procomplexes reveal an open-armed conformation. In contrast, the evolutionarily connected, latent TGF-1 procomplex is cross-armed. We propose that inside the TGF- and BMP family, conversion involving crossarmed and open-armed conformations could regulate release and activity on the development element.Author contributions: T.A.S. created research; L.-Z.M., C.T.B., Y.G., Y.T., V.Q.L., T.W., and T.A.S. performed study; L.-Z.M., C.T.B., Y.G., Y.T., V.Q.L., T.W., and T.A.S. analyzed data; and L.-Z.M., C.T.B., Y.T., V.Q.L., and T.A.S. wrote the paper. PI4KIIIβ Gene ID Reviewers: D.R., NYU Langone Medical Center; and L.Y.S., Shriners Hospitals for Kids. The authors declare no conflict of interest. Data deposition: The atomic coordinates and structure variables happen to be deposited inside the Protein Information Bank, www.pdb.org (PDB ID codes 4YCG and 4YCI).To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: [email protected]. edu.This article includes supporting data on the web at www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:ten. 1073/pnas.1501303112/-/DCSupplemental.3710715 PNAS March 24, 2015 vol. 112 no.www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.AProdomainArm domain2 -finger 1 7BProdomainArm domain2 -fingerProdomainRGDBowtieProdomainRGDArm domain2 1 7 six five Latency lassoProBMPProTGF-Arm domainGrowth factorGrowth factorStraitjacketLatency lasso 1 Cys linkageCPro-BMPD Pro-BMP7 IGrowth factorGrowth factorK393 E248 five K350 Y396 M252 W322 H255 W0.0.0.F TGF-Bowtie9 eight C196 CBMPE BMPC214 C133 3 9′ four 5 2 7 1′ six three 10 1 two RGD4 5 two 7 Arm domain 6 4 three 3Arm domainJTGF-L28 Y339 W281 I24 I20 I17 W279 R212 1 Fastener Latency lasso 1G BMP10 1 2 7H TGF-Prodomain10 -finger 2ProdomainK5 1 Y383 L47 F43 M39 W-finger7 six Latency lassoBMP9 Crossarmed modelGrowth factorFig. 1. Structures. (A and B) Cartoon diagrams of pro-BMP9 (A) and pro-TGF-1 (ten) (B) with superimposition on GF dimers. Disulfides (yellow) are shown in stick. (C and D) Representative negative-stain EM class averages of pro-BMP9 (C).