This family consists of the eukaryotic Noggin proteins. Noggin is a glycoprotein that binds bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) selectively and, when added to osteoblasts, it opposes the effects of BMPs. It has been found that noggin arrests the differentiation of stromal cells, preventing cellular maturation [1].

1: Noggin arrests stromal cell differentiation in vitro( small star, filled ). Gazzerro E, Du Z, Devlin RD, Rydziel S, Priest L, Economides AN, Canalis E; Bone 2003;32:111-119. PMID:12633782