Activin receptor-Like
Kinase 3 (ALK-3), also known as Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor, type IA
(BMPR1A), is a type I receptor for bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) which
belong to the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily.The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)
receptors are a family of transmembrane serine/threonine kinases that include
the type I receptors BMPR1A (this protein) and BMPR1B and the type II receptor
BMPR2. ALK-3 plays an essential role in the formation of embryonic ventral
abdominal wall, and abrogation of BMP signaling activity due to gene mutations
in its signaling components could be one of the underlying causes of
omphalocele at birth.