Huntley, Raphael2020-08-252020-08-252019-06http://hdl.handle.net/11299/215187University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. June 2019. Major: Dentistry. Advisor: Rajaram Gopalakrishnan. 1 computer file (PDF); vi, 92 pages.Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play a large role in the formation and maintenance of the skeleton, and, in recent years, have become a common clinical adjuvant. The regulatory processes tightly control BMP gradients, which can stimulate both osteoblasts to build bone, and osteoclasts to resorb bone. This thesis discusses data from multiple in-vitro and in-vivo BMP-related knockout models to elucidate the different function BMPs have on osteoclast differentiation and activity. We elucidate the mechanism by which BMP signaling is tightly controlled by Twisted Gastrulation, an extracellular BMP binding protein. Using an murine model we also show osteoclast derived BMP2 acts to regulate bone mineral density in-vivo, and can function to coordinate osteoblast matrix deposition.enBMPBMP2Bone Morphogenetic ProteinOsteoclastTwisted GastrulationThesis or Dissertation