ALK-3 is a type I receptor for bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) which belong to the protein kinase superfamily, TKL Ser/Thr protein kinase family and TGFB receptor subfamily. The BMP receptors consists of the type I receptors BMPR1A and BMPR1B and the type I I receptor BMPR2. Seven known type I serine/threonine kinases and five mammalian type II serine/threonine kinase receptors function in TGF-beta superfamily signal transduction. The downstream molecules of the type I BMP receptors include the Smad (Smad1, 5 and 8) proteins that are phosphorylated in a ligand-dependent manner, and relay the BMP signal from the receptors to target genes in the nucleus. Type II receptors phosphorylate and activate type I receptors which autophosphorylate, then bind and activate SMAD transcriptional regulators. ALK-3 contains a GS domain and a protein kinase domain. ALK-3 is widely expressed. Defects in BMPR1A gene are a cause of a significant proportion of cases of Juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS).
