BMP-7 variants with improved properties

A non-naturally occurring variant BMP-7 protein comprising amino acid D at position Vb(120) of the sequence:

• Fx(1-20)-Vb(21)-Fx(22-38)-Vb(39)-Fx(40-64)-Vb(65)-Fx(66-71)-Vb(72)-Fx(73-77)-Vb(78)-Fx(79-92)-Vb(93)-Fx(94-119)-Vb(120)-Fx(121-134)-Vb(135) whereinFx(1-20) corresponds to amino acid residues 1-20 of human BMP-7 (SEQ ID NO:5);
• Vb(21) is selected from the group consisting of L and G;
• Fx(22-38) corresponds to amino acid residues 22-38 of human BMP-7 (SEQ ID NO:5);
• Vb(39) is selected from the group consisting of K, A and S;
• Fx(40-64) corresponds to amino acid residues 40-64 of human BMP-7 (SEQ ID NO:5);
• Vb(65) is selected from the group consisting of Y and N;
• Fx(66-71) corresponds to amino acid residues 66-71 of human BMP-7 (SEQ ID NO:5);
• Vb(72) is selected from the group consisting of A and D;
• Fx(73-77) corresponds to amino acid residues 73-77 of human BMP-7 (SEQ ID NO:5);
• Vb(78) is selected from the group consisting of Y and H;
• Fx(79-92) corresponds to amino acid residues 79-92 of human BMP-7 (SEQ ID NO:5);
• Vb(93) is selected from the group consisting of F, H, S and T;
• Fx(94-119) corresponds to amino acid residues 94-119 of human BMP-7 (SEQ ID NO:5);
• Fx(121-134) corresponds to amino acid residues 121-134 of human BMP-7 (SEQ ID NO:5);
• Vb(135) is selected from the group consisting of A and E;
• wherein said variant comprises an amino acid substitution as compared to human BMP-7 (SEQ ID NO:5), wherein said variant retains at least 50% bioactivity relative to human BMP-7 (SEQ ID NO:5), as determined by differentiation of C2C12 cells as measured by alkaline phosphatase activity, and, wherein said variant BMP-7 protein differs from human BMP-7 (SEQ ID NO:5) by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 residues.