Novel Function of Osteocalcin in Chondrocyte Differentiation and Endochondral Ossification Revealed on a CRISPR/Cas9 bglap–bglap2 Deficiency Mouse Model

Endochondral ossification is the process by which cartilage is mineralized into bone, and is essential for the development of long bones. Osteocalcin (OCN), a protein abundant in bone matrix, also exhibits high expression in chondrocytes, especially hypertrophic chondrocytes, while its role in endochondral ossification remains unclear. Utilizing a new CRISPR/Cas9-mediated