An ultraviolet-optical flare from the tidal disruption of a helium-rich stellar core.

The flare of radiation from the tidal disruption and accretion of a star can be used as a marker for supermassive black holes that otherwise lie dormant and undetected in the centres of distant galaxies. Previous candidate flares have had declining light curves in good agreement with expectations, but with poor constraints on the time of disruption and the type of star disrupted, because the rising emission was not observed. Recently, two 'relativistic' candidate tidal disruption events were discovered, each of whose extreme X-ray luminosity and synchrotron radio emission were interpreted as the onset of emission from a relativistic jet. Here we report a luminous ultraviolet-optical flare from the nuclear region of an inactive galaxy at a redshift of 0.1696. The observed continuum is cooler than expected for a simple accreting debris disk, but the well-sampled rise and decay of the light curve follow the predicted mass accretion rate and can be modelled to determine the time of disruption to an accuracy of two days. The black hole has a mass of about two million solar masses, modulo a factor dependent on the mass and radius of the star disrupted. On the basis of the spectroscopic signature of ionized helium from the unbound debris, we determine that the disrupted star was a helium-rich stellar core.

A novel explosive process is required for the gamma-ray burst GRB 060614.

Over the past decade, our physical understanding of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) has progressed rapidly, thanks to the discovery and observation of their long-lived afterglow emission. Long-duration (> 2 s) GRBs are associated with the explosive deaths of massive stars ('collapsars', ref. 1), which produce accompanying supernovae; the short-duration (< or = 2 s) GRBs have a different origin, which has been argued to be the merger of two compact objects. Here we report optical observations of GRB 060614 (duration approximately 100 s, ref. 10) that rule out the presence of an associated supernova. This would seem to require a new explosive process: either a massive collapsar that powers a GRB without any associated supernova, or a new type of 'engine', as long-lived as the collapsar but without a massive star. We also show that the properties of the host galaxy (redshift z = 0.125) distinguish it from other long-duration GRB hosts and suggest that an entirely new type of GRB progenitor may be required.

Relativistic ejecta from X-ray flash XRF 060218 and the rate of cosmic explosions.

Over the past decade, long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs)--including the subclass of X-ray flashes (XRFs)--have been revealed to be a rare variety of type Ibc supernova. Although all these events result from the death of massive stars, the electromagnetic luminosities of GRBs and XRFs exceed those of ordinary type Ibc supernovae by many orders of magnitude. The essential physical process that causes a dying star to produce a GRB or XRF, and not just a supernova, is still unknown. Here we report radio and X-ray observations of XRF 060218 (associated with supernova SN 2006aj), the second-nearest GRB identified until now. We show that this event is a hundred times less energetic but ten times more common than cosmological GRBs. Moreover, it is distinguished from ordinary type Ibc supernovae by the presence of 10(48) erg coupled to mildly relativistic ejecta, along with a central engine (an accretion-fed, rapidly rotating compact source) that produces X-rays for weeks after the explosion. This suggests that the production of relativistic ejecta is the key physical distinction between GRBs or XRFs and ordinary supernovae, while the nature of the central engine (black hole or magnetar) may distinguish typical bursts from low-luminosity, spherical events like XRF 060218.

A photometric redshift of z = 6.39 +/- 0.12 for GRB 050904.

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and their afterglows are the most brilliant transient events in the Universe. Both the bursts themselves and their afterglows have been predicted to be visible out to redshifts of z approximately 20, and therefore to be powerful probes of the early Universe. The burst GRB 000131, at z = 4.50, was hitherto the most distant such event identified. Here we report the discovery of the bright near-infrared afterglow of GRB 050904 (ref. 4). From our measurements of the near-infrared afterglow, and our failure to detect the optical afterglow, we determine the photometric redshift of the burst to be z = 6.39 - 0.12 + 0.11 (refs 5-7). Subsequently, it was measured spectroscopically to be z = 6.29 +/- 0.01, in agreement with our photometric estimate. These results demonstrate that GRBs can be used to trace the star formation, metallicity, and reionization histories of the early Universe.

The afterglow and elliptical host galaxy of the short gamma-ray burst GRB 050724.

Despite a rich phenomenology, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are divided into two classes based on their duration and spectral hardness--the long-soft and the short-hard bursts. The discovery of afterglow emission from long GRBs was a watershed event, pinpointing their origin to star-forming galaxies, and hence the death of massive stars, and indicating an energy release of about 10(51) erg. While theoretical arguments suggest that short GRBs are produced in the coalescence of binary compact objects (neutron stars or black holes), the progenitors, energetics and environments of these events remain elusive despite recent localizations. Here we report the discovery of the first radio afterglow from the short burst GRB 050724, which unambiguously associates it with an elliptical galaxy at a redshift z = 0.257. We show that the burst is powered by the same relativistic fireball mechanism as long GRBs, with the ejecta possibly collimated in jets, but that the total energy release is 10-1,000 times smaller. More importantly, the nature of the host galaxy demonstrates that short GRBs arise from an old (> 1 Gyr) stellar population, strengthening earlier suggestions and providing support for coalescing compact object binaries as the progenitors.

The afterglow of GRB 050709 and the nature of the short-hard gamma-ray bursts.

The final chapter in the long-standing mystery of the gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) centres on the origin of the short-hard class of bursts, which are suspected on theoretical grounds to result from the coalescence of neutron-star or black-hole binary systems. Numerous searches for the afterglows of short-hard bursts have been made, galvanized by the revolution in our understanding of long-duration GRBs that followed the discovery in 1997 of their broadband (X-ray, optical and radio) afterglow emission. Here we present the discovery of the X-ray afterglow of a short-hard burst, GRB 050709, whose accurate position allows us to associate it unambiguously with a star-forming galaxy at redshift z = 0.160, and whose optical lightcurve definitively excludes a supernova association. Together with results from three other recent short-hard bursts, this suggests that short-hard bursts release much less energy than the long-duration GRBs. Models requiring young stellar populations, such as magnetars and collapsars, are ruled out, while coalescing degenerate binaries remain the most promising progenitor candidates.

A common origin for cosmic explosions inferred from calorimetry of GRB030329.

Past studies have suggested that long-duration gamma-ray bursts have a 'standard' energy of E(gamma) approximately 10(51) erg in the ultra-relativistic ejecta, after correcting for asymmetries in the explosion ('jets'). But a group of sub-energetic bursts, including the peculiar GRB980425 associated with the supernova SN1998bw (E(gamma) approximately 10(48) erg), has recently been identified. Here we report radio observations of GRB030329 that allow us to undertake calorimetry of the explosion. Our data require a two-component explosion: a narrow (5 degrees opening angle) ultra-relativistic component responsible for the gamma-rays and early afterglow, and a wide, mildly relativistic component that produces the radio and optical afterglow more than 1.5 days after the explosion. The total energy release, which is dominated by the wide component, is similar to that of other gamma-ray bursts, but the contribution of the gamma-rays is energetically minor. Given the firm link of GRB030329 with SN2003dh, our result indicates a common origin for cosmic explosions in which, for reasons not yet understood, the energy in the highest-velocity ejecta is extremely variable.

Characterization of a new human osteosarcoma cell line OHS-4.

We present a new human osteosarcoma cell line designated OHS-4. These cells showed a high alkaline phosphatase activity that is not regulated by 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3. They exhibited a sensitive adenylate cyclase response to parathyroid hormone but not to prostaglandin E2 or human calcitonin. By Northern blot analysis we could detect type I collagen mRNA but none for type III collagen. The cells were able to produce human osteocalcin at a maximum level of 35 ng per million cells when exposed to 2.4 nM 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 for 96 h. We purified this protein from conditioned media using successive chromatography and assessed its identity by partial amino acid sequencing. When injected into nude mice, the cells retained their osteogenic activity and developed calcified tumors. After Von Kossa staining, we observed nonmineralized osteoid deposits and mineralized deposits with a structure similar to that of trabecular bone by light microscopy. On the basis of its osteoblastic characteristics, this new osteosarcoma cell line may represent the human counterpart of the ROS 17/2 cell line. This cell line represents a valuable model for the isolation and characterization of human bone specific proteins.

New biochemical marker for bone metabolism. Measurement by radioimmunoassay of bone GLA protein in the plasma of normal subjects and patients with bone disease.

gamma-Carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein of bone (BGP) is an abundant noncollagenous protein of mammalian bone. BGP has a molecular weight of 5,800 and contains three residues of the vitamin K-dependent amino acid, gamma-carboxyglutamic acid. We have applied a radioimmunoassay based on calf BGP for the measurement of the protein in the plasma of 109 normal humans and 112 patients with various bone diseases. BGP in human plasma was demonstrated to be indistinguishable from calf BGP by assay dilution studies and gel permeation chromatography. The mean (+/- SE) concentration of BGP in normal subjects was 6.78 (+/- 0.20) ng/ml, 7.89 (+/- 0.32) for males and 4.85 (+/- 0.35) for females. Plasma BGP was increased in patients with Paget's disease of bone, bone metastases, primary hyperparathyroidism, renal osteodystrophy, and osteopenia. Plasma BGP did correlate with plasma alkaline phosphatase (AP) in some instances, but there were dissociations between the two. It was additionally observed that patients with liver disease had normal plasma BGP despite increased plasma AP, a reflection of the lack of specificity of AP measurements for bone disease. Our studies indicate that the radioimmunoassay of plasma BGP can be a useful and specific procedure for evaluating the patient with bone disease.

Structural requirements for parathyroid hormone action in mature bone. Effects on release of cyclic adenosine monophosphate and bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein from perfused rat hindquarters.

To determine the structural requirements for parathyroid hormone (PTH) activity in mature bone, we perfused the surgically isolated hindquarters of adult male rats with either native bovine PTH-(1-84) [bPTH-(1-84)] or the synthetic amino-terminal fragment, bovine PTH-(1-34) [bPTH-(1-34)]. Changes in the release of cyclic AMP (cAMP) and bone Gla protein (BGP) were monitored as evidence of bone-specific response to PTH; tissue specificity of the cAMP response was confirmed through in vitro examination on nonskeletal tissue response to PTH. Biologically active, monoiodinated 125I-bPTH-(1-84) was administered to determine if mature murine bone cleaves native hormone. We found that perfused rat bone continuously releases BGP, and that both bPTH-(1-84) and bPTH-(1-34) acutely suppress this release. In addition, both hormones stimulate cAMP release from perfused rat hindquarters. When examined on a molar basis, the magnitude of the cAMP response was dose-dependent and similar for both hormones, with doses yielding half-maximal cAMP responses. The response for bPTH-(1-34) was 0.5 nmol and for bPTH-(1-84) was 0.7 nmol. Moreover, biologically active 125I-bPTH-(1-84) was not metabolized in our hindquarter perfusion system. These findings indicate that PTH-(1-84) does not require extraskeletal or skeletal cleavage to an amino-terminal fragment in order to stimulate cAMP generation in, or suppress BGP release from, mature rat bone.

Some effects of calcium and magnesium ions on the activity of bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease A.

Bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease requires divalent metal cations for hydrolysis of DNA. The effects of calcium and magnesium, alone and combined, on the rate and kinetics of the reaction were examined. Divalent metal salts of DNA were used as substrates. The ratio of either Ca-2+ or Mg-2+ to DNA-P in these salts was 1:2. The Mg-2+ salt of DNA was found to have sufficient Mg-2+ for optimal DNAase activity. Addition of MgCl-2 to a large excess of Mg-2+ over DNA-P had no effect on the rate. Km for the hydrolysis of Mg-2+-DNA was 1.76 mM. Km for the hydrolysis of Ca-2+-DNA was too low to measure by our methods of assay, indicating a high affinity of enzyme for substrate. The rate of hydrolysis of Ca-2+-DNA, however, is slow compared to that of Mg-2+-DNA. By mixing the Ca-2+ and Mg-2+ salts of DNA, a synergistic effect on the activity of DNAase was observed. On the basis of kinetic studies the synergistic effect is attributed to an increased affinity of DNAase for DNA (Km equals 0.34 mM for the mixed Ca-2+, Mg-2+ salt of DNA). A 2-fold increase in DNAase activity was observed when DNAase was incubated in CaCl-2 before assay. This 2-fold stimulation was not related to the synergistic effect. DNAase I is inactive against the sodium salt of DNA. In experiments with mixed Na+ and Mg-2+ salts of DNA, Na+-DNA was found to be a competitive inhibitor of the action of DNAase against Mg-2+-DNA.

Vitamin K-dependent carboxylase: utilization of decarboxylated bone Gla protein and matrix Gla protein as substrates.

The ability of des-gamma-carboxy bone Gla protein (dBGP) and des-gamma-carboxy matrix Gla protein (dMGP) to act as substrates for the rat liver vitamin K-dependent carboxylase has been investigated. An amino-terminal 'propeptide' is present on the intracellular form of BGP and is thought to interact with a recognition site on the enzyme. dBGP, lacking this extension, is a poor, high apparent Km, carboxylase substrate, but is a much better substrate when free propeptide is added. MGP lacks an amino-terminal propeptide, but contains a a homologous region in the mature protein. dMGP is an excellent substrate for the carboxylase with a low apparent Km and its carboxylation is inhibited by free propeptide.

Bisphosphonates alendronate and ibandronate inhibit artery calcification at doses comparable to those that inhibit bone resorption.

The present experiments were carried out to test the hypothesis that artery calcification is linked to bone resorption by determining whether the selective inhibition of bone resorption with the bisphosphonates alendronate and ibandronate will inhibit artery calcification. Artery calcification was first induced by treatment of 42-day-old male rats with warfarin, a procedure that inhibits the gamma-carboxylation of matrix Gla protein and has been shown to cause extensive calcification of the artery media within 2 weeks. These experiments revealed that ibandronate (0.05 mg. kg(-1). d(-1)) and alendronate (0.1 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) completely inhibited calcification of all arteries and heart valves examined after 2 and 4 weeks of warfarin treatment. A 10-fold lower dose of alendronate reduced artery calcification by 50% (P<0.005). These bisphosphonate doses are comparable to those that inhibit bone resorption in rats of this age. More rapid artery calcification was induced by treatment with warfarin together with high doses of vitamin D, a procedure that causes extensive artery calcification by 84 hours. Alendronate and ibandronate again completely inhibited calcification of all arteries and heart valves examined. The subcutaneous doses of alendronate and ibandronate necessary to inhibit artery calcification are comparable to the daily subcutaneous doses of these drugs that have previously been shown to inhibit bone resorption in rats of the same age, with 50% inhibition of artery calcification at 20 microg alendronate x kg(-1) x d(-1) and at 1 microg ibandronate x kg(-1) x d(-1) x Bisphosphonate treatment did not affect serum calcium and phosphate, and so the inhibition of artery calcification cannot be due to a simple lowering of the serum calcium phosphate ion product. We conclude that bisphosphonates inhibit the calcification of arteries and heart valves at doses comparable to the doses that inhibit bone resorption. These results support the hypothesis that artery calcification is linked to bone resorption. The mechanism of this linkage remains to be established, however, and an alternative explanation for the present results is also considered.

Osteoprotegerin inhibits artery calcification induced by warfarin and by vitamin D.

The present experiments were carried out to test the hypothesis that arterial calcification is linked to bone resorption by determining whether the selective inhibition of bone resorption with osteoprotegerin will inhibit arterial calcification. In the first test, arterial calcification was induced by treating 22-day-old male rats with warfarin, a procedure that inhibits the gamma-carboxylation of matrix Gla protein and causes extensive calcification of the arterial media. Compared with rats treated for 1 week with warfarin alone, rats treated with warfarin plus osteoprotegerin at a dose of 1 mg/kg per day had dramatically reduced alizarin red staining for calcification in the aorta and in the carotid, hepatic, mesenteric, renal, and femoral arteries, and they had 90% lower levels of calcium and phosphate in the abdominal aorta (P<0.001) and in tracheal ring cartilage (P<0.01). More rapid arterial calcification was induced by treating 49-day-old male rats with toxic doses of vitamin D. Treatment for 96 hours with vitamin D caused widespread alizarin red staining for calcification in the aorta and the femoral, mesenteric, hepatic, renal, and carotid arteries, and osteoprotegerin completely prevented calcification in each of these arteries and reduced the levels of calcium and phosphate in the abdominal aorta to control levels (P<0.001). Treatment with vitamin D also caused extensive calcification in the lungs, trachea, kidneys, stomach, and small intestine, and treatment with osteoprotegerin reduced or prevented calcification in each of these sites. Measurement of serum levels of cross-linked N-teleopeptides showed that osteoprotegerin dramatically reduced bone resorption activity in each of these experiments (P<0.001). Therefore, we conclude that doses of osteoprotegerin that inhibit bone resorption are able to potently inhibit the calcification of arteries that is induced by warfarin treatment and by vitamin D treatment. These results support the hypothesis that arterial calcification is linked to bone resorption.

Bone Gla protein messenger ribonucleic acid is regulated by both 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate in rat osteosarcoma cells.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] regulates the synthesis of bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) protein (BGP) by osteoblastic cells. In this study we examined the effect of cAMP, alone and in combination with 1,25-(OH)2D3, on the regulation of BGP mRNA levels in ROS 17/2 rat osteosarcoma cells. Elevation of intracellular cAMP levels by cAMP analogs or by isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), forskolin, or PTH, resulted in increased BGP mRNA levels and BGP secretion after 1 day of treatment. The effects of these agents were additive with 1,25-(OH)2D3 in stimulating BGP gene expression. After 4 days of treatment, pertussis toxin (PT) and 1,25-(OH)2D3 were synergistic in stimulating BGP mRNA, and the effect of PT could be mimicked by (Bu)2cAMP, IBMX, forskolin, cholera toxin, and to a lesser extent by PTH. The effect of 1-day treatment with cAMP alone and the synergistic effect with 1,25-(OH)2D3 on the stimulation of BGP mRNA were dependent on cell density, while basal and 1,25-(OH)2D3-stimulated synthesis were not. Cyclic AMP inhibited ROS 17/2 cell growth after 1 day of treatment, an effect that was also dependent on initial cell density. After 4 days of treatment, 1,25-(OH)2D3, cAMP, and PT all demonstrated inhibition of cell growth. When cells were treated with actinomycin D, both 1,25-(OH)2D3 and cAMP stimulation of BGP mRNA were blocked. In addition, neither agent was effective in enhancing BGP mRNA stability when prestimulated cells were exposed to actinomycin D.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Direct demonstration that the vitamin K-dependent bone Gla protein is incompletely gamma-carboxylated in humans.

Incomplete vitamin K-dependent gamma-carboxylation has been found in bone Gla protein (BGP) isolated from each of 20 different human bone samples. Using N-terminal protein sequencing of the methyl-esterified protein (Anal Biochem 1991;199:93-97), a method that directly measures the percentage of gamma-carboxylation at each target glutamate residue, the extent of incomplete BGP gamma-carboxylation was found to depend strongly on sequence position, with (chi +/- SD) 67 +/- 14% gamma-carboxylation at residue 17.88 +/- 9% gamma-carboxylation at residue 21, and 93 +/- 4% gamma-carboxylation at residue 24. There is a strong correlation between the incomplete gamma-carboxylation at glutamate residues 17 and 21 for BGP purified from the 20 bone samples (p < 0.001), which suggests that individual differences in the efficiency of BGP gamma-carboxylation during synthesis probably cause the observed differences in percentage BGP gamma-carboxylation between bone samples. These results have been interpreted using a kinetic treatment of gamma-carboxylation. This treatment predicts the existence of differences in the extent of gamma-carboxylation between glutamate residues in BGP, as well as the correlation between percentage carboxylation at Glu17 and Glu21. Although the molecular basis of incomplete BGP gamma-carboxylation is at present unknown, if incomplete BGP gamma-carboxylation were caused only by differences in the availability of vitamin K in bone cells, this kinetic treatment predicts that the range in BGP gamma-carboxylation observed in the 20 human bone samples studied here could be explained by a relatively modest fivefold range in the vitamin K levels of these individuals.

Identification of peptide fragments generated by digestion of bovine and human osteocalcin with the lysosomal proteinases cathepsin B, D, L, H, and S.

We have determined the primary cleavage sites in the bone Gla protein (BGP; osteocalcin) for several of the proteases that could act on the protein during bone resorption and turnover, cathepsins B, D, L, H, and S. The time course of BGP digestion by each cathepsin was first determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We then incubated human and bovine BGP with each cathepsin for a sufficient time to reduce the level of intact protein by at least 20-fold, isolated the major cleavage peptides, and identified each by N-terminal sequence analysis and by amino acid analysis. Our results show that BGP has relatively few cathepsin-sensitive sites and that these sites are located at the N and C terminus of the 49-residue protein. Cathepsins B, L, H, and S readily cleave BGP at the G7-A8 bond; cathepsin L also cleaves at R43-R44; cathepsin B also cleaves at R44-F45; and cathepsin D cleaves only at A41-Y42. The immunoreactivity of the major peptides generated by cathepsin cleavage was evaluated using the original radioimmunoassay developed for the detection of BGP in human serum. The BGP 8-49 fragment cross-reacts identically with native BGP, while the 8-43 and the 1-44 fragments require 20- to 40-fold higher concentrations to achieve the same level of displacement as the native protein. The 1-41 and 8-41 fragments are unable to significantly displace the labeled native BGP tracer at any concentration tested. These results demonstrate the utility of peptides generated by cathepsin digestion in the mapping of the antigenic epitopes recognized by a given BGP immunoassay.

Isolation and sequence of the vitamin K-dependent matrix Gla protein from the calcified cartilage of the soupfin shark.

High levels of the vitamin K-dependent matrix Gla protein (MGP) have been found in the calcified costal cartilage of the cow and the calcified vertebral cartilage of the soupfin shark (Galeorhinus galeus). In both species, MGP accounts for 35-40% of the total protein in the acid demineralization extract of calcified cartilage, and the mineral content of calcified cartilage is comparable to that of bovine cortical bone. Shark and bovine MGP are both nearly insoluble in neutral buffers, a conserved property that indicates that self-aggregation could be important to the as yet unknown function of MGP. The complete amino acid sequence of shark MGP was determined to compare the structure of the elasmobranch protein to the several currently known mammalian MGP sequences. Shark MGP contains 4 residues of the vitamin K-dependent amino acid gamma-carboxyglutamic acid in its 102 residue sequence and has a calculated molecular weight = 12,770 daltons. The first 76 residues of shark MGP are homologous in sequence to mammalian MGPs, with 37% sequence identity, but the C-terminal 23 residues of the shark protein have no counterpart in the mammalian MGPs. This C-terminal segment of shark MGP contains 8 basic residues and no acidic residues. Among the features conserved in shark MGP, in all mammalian MGPs, and in all other currently known vitamin K-dependent mammalian proteins are a 15-residue region of sequence homology that has been shown to function as the gamma-carboxylase recognition sequence and an invariant sequence of unknown function, Gla-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Gla-Xaa-Cys.

Bone Gla protein (osteocalcin) assay standardization report.

The major conclusion of this study is that the different laboratory assays for serum BGP give a reasonably consistent picture of bone metabolism in the metabolic bone diseases examined only if the results are expressed as a percentage of serum BGP levels in normal individuals. This requires that all laboratories establish a mean control serum BGP value in an appropriate population of normal individuals. Since BGP levels determined by different laboratories on the same serum sample can vary by more than fourfold, the absolute serum BGP levels determined in one laboratory cannot be compared directly with the serum BGP levels determined in another. Although we cannot comment on the efficacy of different laboratory assays for serum BGP as measures of bone metabolism in disease states that were not examined, such as osteoporosis, it is clear that the large differences between laboratory assays make it imperative that all interlaboratory comparisons be based on values expressed as a percentage of serum BGP in an appropriate population of normal individuals.

Identification of proteins secreted by human osteoblastic cells in culture.

To better understand the biochemistry of matrix-forming cells, we developed a simple and reproducible procedure for the isolation and identification by N-terminal sequencing of proteins secreted by cells into culture medium and applied this procedure to the analysis of the major Coomassie blue-staining proteins under 100 kD that are secreted from three different human osteoblastic cell cultures. The major proteins secreted by normal human osteoblasts from adult trabecular bone were identified by N-terminal sequencing to be gelatinase, osteonectin, the C-terminal propeptides of the alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains of type I collagen, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), and beta 2-microglobulin. The amounts of each of these proteins secreted into medium over a 24 h interval did not change over the 7 consecutive days of culture under serum-free conditions, which indicates that this pattern of protein secretion is not significantly affected by the serum-free conditions needed for protein identification by this method. In addition, radioimmunoassay for bone gla protein (BGP), a marker for osteoblast phenotype, revealed that BGP secretion remained high over 7 days of culture under serum-free conditions and was comparable to the rate of BGP secretion in control cultures with 10% serum. The major proteins secreted by MG-63 cells were identified by N-terminal sequencing to be gelatinase, a novel 40 kD human bone protein we termed YKL-40, TIMP-1, the recently discovered TIMP-2, and beta 2-microglobulin. Further studies revealed that YKL-40 is the only protein detectable by Coomassie staining of SDS gels of MG-63 media proteins that is induced by extended time at confluence or by treatment with 1,25-(OH)2D3. The apparent absence of detectable Coomassie-stained bands corresponding to the C-terminal propeptides of collagen in the medium of MG-63 cells suggests that these transformed cells may not be a good model for bone matrix formation. The major proteins secreted by normal fetal osteoblastic cells were identified by N-terminal sequencing to be osteonectin and the C-terminal propeptides of the alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains of type I collagen. Gelatinase and TIMP could not be detected among the conditioned medium proteins by these methods. These observations indicate that fetal osteoblasts primarily express proteins that are matrix constituents and adult human osteoblasts secrete, in addition to these, proteins that could function in matrix turnover.