Sb4 is a cell penetrant, potent bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling agonist th at rapidly activate BMP in human renal cells (HEK293). Sb4 activates BMP by stabilization of intracellular p-SMAD-1/5/9. Apparently activation of the BMP pathway by sb4 cannot be reversed by inhibition of Noggin or type I BMP kinase inhibitors