By non-covalent association after proteolytic cleavage, the pro-domains modulate the activities of the mature growth factor domains across the transforming growth factor- family. In the case of bone morphogenic protein 9 (BMP9), however, the pro-domains do not inhibit the bioactivity of the growth factor, and the BMP9⅐pro-domain complexes have equivalent biological activities as the BMP9 mature ligand dimers. By using realtime surface plasmon resonance, we could demonstrate that either binding of pro-domain-complexed BMP9 to type I receptor activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1), type II receptors, coreceptor endoglin, or to mature BMP9 domain targeting antibodies leads to immediate and complete displacement of the pro-domains from the complex. Vice versa, pro-domain binding by an anti-pro-domain antibody results in release of the mature BMP9 growth factor. Based on these findings, we adjusted ELISA assays to measure the protein levels of different BMP9 variants. Although mature BMP9 and inactive precursor BMP9 protein were directly detectable by ELISA, BMP9⅐pro-domain complex could only be measured indirectly as dissociated fragments due to displacement of mature growth factor and prodomains after antibody binding. Our studies provide a model in which BMP9 can be readily activated upon getting into contact with its receptors. This increases the understanding of the underlying biology of BMP9 activation and also provides guidance for ELISA development for the detection of circulating BMP9 variants.Bone morphogenic protein 9 (BMP9 2 ; also known as growth and differentiation factor 2 (GDF2)), is a member of the transforming growth factor  (TGF) superfamily. BMP9 is constitutively expressed in liver and secreted into the circulation at active concentrations (1). Circulating BMP9 is a potent biological effector signaling through type I receptor activin-receptorlike kinase 1 (ALK1) in endothelial cells, thereby maintaining vascular homeostasis (2, 3). BMP9 and ALK1 are required for properly organized blood and lymphatic vascular development (4 -6). Human mutations in ALK1 lead to a genetic vascular disorder known as hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (7). Recently, mutations in BMP9 have been identified in individuals with a vascular disorder phenotypically overlapping with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (8). BMP9 was also discovered to function as a neurotropic factor, potently inducing and maintaining the cholinergic phenotype in the central nervous system (9), and is also the most potent BMP for inducing osteogenic, and to a lesser extent adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation (10, 11). Osteogenic signaling requires both ALK1 and the low affinity type I receptor ALK2 (12). Type II receptors activin receptor IIA and IIB (ActRIIA and ActRIIB) and BMP receptor II (BMPRII) have also been implicated in ALK1/BMP9 signaling (13). Moreover, endoglin (ENG) has been identified as a co-receptor that can increase BMP9/ALK1 signaling (3,14). This is reflected in a model where ENG and ALK1 act together to bind...