BmprIa is required in mesenchymal tissue and has limited redundant function with BmprIb in tooth and palate development

► BmprIa and BmprIb show partially overlapped expression patterns in developing palate and tooth. ► BmprIa deletion by Wnt1-Cre leads anterior clefting of the palate and arrested tooth development. ► Transgenic BmprIb partially rescues tooth defects but not palate defect in mice lacking BmprIa. ► We conclude that BmprIa is essential in mesenchymal compartment for palate and tooth development. ► BmprIb functions redundantly with BmprIa in a tissue-specific manner in craniofacial development.