Non-collagen proteins in bone

The non-collagen proteins of bone are a complex set of molecules that arise from local or exogenous sources. Because bone mineral is an excellent adsorbent, many circulatory and/or cell surface proteins bind to bone, where they may have immediate or subsequent effects. These include the alpha 2-HS-glycoprotein from blood and the potent growth factors TGF-beta, PDGF, IGF-1, FGF-a and -b, and IL-1, derived from both bone and non-bone cells. Furthermore, bone cell membrane proteins such as alkaline phosphatase may be cleaved from the cell surface and entrapped in the bone matrix. Bone is enriched in a variety of enzymes and their inhibitors by similar adsorption processes. Even osteocalcin, a bone cell product, is adsorbed to bone via mineral-binding (Gla) groups. The bone sialoproteins (BSP-I or osteopontin and BSP-II) also bind to the mineral via acidic groups. Because of this phenomenon it is difficult to distinguish whether a given protein's presence in bone is advantageous or merely fortuitous. The bone matrix proper consists of type I collagen and other osteoblast products such as osteonectin (a phosphorylated glycoprotein) and small proteoglycans (PG-I and/or PG-II) which are incorporated into bone collagen fibrils. These proteins may have additional roles in tissue morphogenesis and/or differentiation.