BMPs and the muscle–bone connection

•Bone and muscle are intimately connected and a cross talk exists.•Bone and morphogenetic proteins are critical for bone formation but also for the regulation of muscle mass.•Bone and morphogenetic proteins are dominant over myostatin signalling for the control of muscle mass.•MUSA1 is a novel atrophy related ubiquitin ligase that is negatively controlled by BMPs.

Muscle and bone are two intimately connected tissues. A coordinated interplay between these tissues at mechanical levels is required for their development, function and ageing. Evidence is emerging that several genes and molecular pathways exert a pleiotropic effect on both muscle and bone. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are secreted signal factors belonging to the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily. BMPs have an essential role during bone and cartilage formation and maintenance. Recently, we and others have demonstrated that the BMP pathway also has a role in controlling adult skeletal muscle mass. Thus, BMPs become crucial regulators of both bone and muscle formation and homeostasis. In this review we will discuss the signalling downstream BMP and its role in muscle–bone interaction.This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “Muscle Bone Interactions”.