Phospho-control of TGF-beta superfamily signaling.

ABSTRACT: Members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family control a broad range of cellular responses in metazoan organisms via autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine modes. Thus, aberrant TGF-beta signaling can play a key role in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including cancer. TGF-beta signaling pathways are activated by a short phospho-cascade, from receptor phosphorylation to the subsequent phosphorylation and activation of downstream signal transducers called R-Smads. R-Smad phosphorylation state determines Smad complex assembly/disassembly, nuclear import/export, transcriptional activity and stability, and is thus the most critical event in TGF-beta signaling. Dephosphorylation of R-Smads by specific phosphatases prevents or terminates TGF-beta signaling, highlighting the

SUBMITTER: Wrighton KH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2929013 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature