Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
11:47
A Novel in vivo Gene Transfer Technique and in vitro Cell Based Assays for the Study of Bone Loss in Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published on: June 9, 2014
Molecular cloning of a novel bone-forming compound: osteoinductive factor
L Madisen1, M Neubauer, G Plowman
1Oncogen, Seattle, WA 98121.
DNA and Cell Biology
|June 1, 1990
Summary
Researchers isolated osteoinductive factor (OIF) cDNA from bovine cells, revealing a precursor protein. Human OIF shares high similarity, with expression limited to bone-related cells.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Bone Biology
Background:
- Osteoinductive factor (OIF) plays a role in bone formation.
- Understanding OIF's structure and expression is crucial for bone regeneration research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize cDNA clones encoding osteoinductive factor (OIF) from bovine and human sources.
- To investigate the expression patterns of OIF transcripts.
Main Methods:
- cDNA library screening from bovine osteoblasts.
- Sequence analysis of OIF precursor and mature protein.
- Northern blot analysis of OIF mRNA.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of human OIF cDNA.
Main Results:
- Isolated cDNA clones encoding a 299-amino-acid precursor for bovine OIF.
- Mature OIF is a 105-amino-acid protein.
- Identified two OIF transcripts (1.9 and 2.4 kb) in bovine osteoblasts.
- Cloned human OIF cDNA encoding a 298-amino-acid precursor with 94% identity to bovine OIF.
- OIF transcript expression is restricted, potentially to bone lineage cells.
Conclusions:
- Bovine and human OIF share significant sequence homology.
- OIF expression appears highly specific to bone-related cells, suggesting a critical role in bone biology.
Related Concept Videos
01:40Bone Remodeling
Bone remodeling is a continuous and balanced process of bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. In adults, it helps maintain bone mass and calcium homeostasis. While mechanical stress can stimulate turnover as part of the normal maintenance and reparative process, several hormones also regulate bone remodeling.
01:31Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling
Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during bone...
01:29Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification
Intramembranous ossification is one of the two processes involved in the development of bones within an embryo. The flat bones of the face, most of the cranial bones, and the clavicles are formed via this process. During intramembranous ossification, the bones develop directly from sheets of undifferentiated mesenchymal connective tissue.
The process begins when mesenchymal cells in the embryonic skeleton gather together and differentiate into osteogenic cells, which then develop into...
The process begins when mesenchymal cells in the embryonic skeleton gather together and differentiate into osteogenic cells, which then develop into...
01:31Bone Remodeling and Repair
Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during bone...
01:24Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification
Bone formation, or ossification, begins around the sixth to seventh week of embryonic development. Most bones develop from a cartilaginous template through the process of endochondral ossification. Cartilage formation begins when clusters of mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes. These chondrocytes proliferate rapidly and secrete an extracellular matrix that becomes encased in a membrane called the perichondrium. The resulting cartilage model provides a template that resembles the...