Open AccessFunction of the Bone Protein Osteocalcin: Definitive Evidence
Author(s) -
Wolf George
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
nutrition reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.958
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1753-4887
pISSN - 0029-6643
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-4887.1996.tb03798.x
Subject(s) - osteocalcin , endocrinology , medicine , bone matrix , mutant , mineralization (soil science) , chemistry , biology , anatomy , gene , alkaline phosphatase , biochemistry , cartilage , enzyme , organic chemistry , nitrogen
Mice that lacked the genes for the bone protein osteocalcin were generated and were used to study the function of osteocalcin. These osteocalcin‐deficient mutants had normal bones at birth but had increased bone density and thickness at 6 months. Their osteoblasts deposited more bone matrix than those of wild‐type mice, though mineralization was not affected. Osteocalcin, therefore, was concluded to be a negative regulator of bone formation.