Bone morphogenetic protein-1 (BMP-1)/Tolloid-like metalloproteinases play key roles in formation of mammalian extracellular matrix (ECM), through the biosynthetic conversion of precursor proteins into their mature functional forms. These proteinases probably play a further role in formation of bone through activation of transforming growth factor -like BMPs. Dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP1), deposited into the ECM during assembly and involved in initiating mineralization of bones and teeth, is thought to undergo proteolysis in vivo to generate functional cleavage fragments found in extracts of mineralized tissues. Here, we have generated recombinant DMP1 and demonstrate that it is cleaved, to varying extents, by all four mammalian BMP-1/ Tolloid-like proteinases, to generate fragments similar in size to those previously isolated from bone. Consistent with possible roles for the BMP-1/Tolloid-like proteinases in the physiological processing of DMP1, NH 2 -terminal sequences of products generated by BMP-1 cleavage of DMP1 match those predicted from processing at the predicted DMP1 site that shows greatest cross-species conservation of sequences. Moreover, fibroblasts derived from mouse embryos homozygous null for genes encoding three of the four mammalian BMP-1/Tolloid-like proteinases appear to be deficient in processing of DMP1. Thus, a further role for BMP-1-Tolloidlike proteinases in formation of mineralized tissues is indicated, via proteolytic processing of DMP1.Bone morphogenetic protein-1 (BMP-1) 1 is the prototype of a family of metalloproteinases involved in morphogenesis in a broad range of species (1). These proteinases mediate morphogenetic effects in part by biosynthetic processing of precursors into the mature functional forms of proteins necessary to formation of the extracellular matrix. For example, they provide the procollagen C-proteinase activity that excises the carboxylterminal propeptides of procollagens I-III, to yield the major fibril-forming components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) (2-6). They also participate in the biosynthetic processing of the minor fibrillar collagens V and XI (6 -8), which in turn further regulate the physical properties of types I and II collagen fibers (9, 10). The BMP-1/Tolloid-like proteinases have also been shown to process a precursor to produce the small leucinerich proteoglycan biglycan (11), a molecule that positively regulates bone growth, influences type I collagen fibril morphology, and also may influence dentin mineralization (12-14). The BMP-1/Tolloid-like proteinases have also been implicated in the biosynthetic processing of laminin 5 (15, 16) and type VII collagen (17) and shown to proteolytically activate lysyl oxidase (18), an enzyme required for covalent cross-linking of collagen and elastin fibers. These metalloproteinases may thus be central regulators in the formation of ECM.Type I collagen is the major organic component of mineralized ECM and serves as the template upon which mineral is deposited in tissues such as bone and dentin. Noncol...