Bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) are members of the TGF beta superfamily and are involved in the induction of cartilage and bone formation. BMP-10 (Bone morphogenetic protein 10) is a 424 amino acid secreted protein that exists as a disulfide-linked homodimer. Expressed specifically in heart tissue, BMP-10 functions to prevent the premature activation of p57 (a negative cell cycle regulator), thereby maintaining the proliferative activity of embryonic cardiomyocytes and playing a critical role in the formation of trabeculae within the developing heart. Additionally, BMP-10 inhibits the growth and migration of endothelial cells and functions as a ligand for ALK-1, a protein that is tightly linked to angiogenesis. This suggests that, in addition to its role in cardiomyocyte formation, BMP-10 participates in the formation of blood vessels in developing cardiac muscle.