title: Dual role of the Smad4/DPC4 tumor suppressor in TGFbeta-inducible transcriptional complexes.
abstract: Upon ligand binding, the receptors of the TGFbeta family phosphorylate Smad proteins, which then move into the nucleus where they activate transcription. To carry out this function, the receptor-activated Smads 1 and 2 require association with the product of deleted in pancreatic carcinoma, locus 4 (DPC4), Smad4. We investigated the step at which Smad4 is required for transcriptional activation. Smad4 is not required for nuclear translocation of Smads 1 or 2, or for association of Smad2 with a DNA binding partner, the winged helix protein FAST-1. Receptor-activated Smad2 takes Smad4 into the nucleus where they form a complex with FAST-1 that requires these three components to activate transcription. Smad4 contributes two functions: Through its amino-terminal domain, Smad4 promotes binding of the Smad2/Smad4/FAST-1 complex to DNA; through its carboxy-terminal domain, Smad4 provides an activation function required for Smad1 or Smad2 to stimulate transcription. The dual function of Smad4 in transcriptional activation underscores its central role in TGFbeta signaling.
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology Program and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pouponnot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Massagué
mesh_terms: D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D028341:Activins; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D019556:COS Cells; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D017353:Gene Deletion; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051785:Smad Proteins; D051898:Smad1 Protein; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014981:Xenopus; D029867:Xenopus Proteins
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C102067:FOXH1 protein, Xenopus; C510350:FOXH1 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C491117:Foxh1 protein, mouse; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C497399:SMAD1 protein, human; C497782:SMAD2 protein, human; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; D051785:Smad Proteins; D051898:Smad1 Protein; D051899:Smad2 Protein; C497785:Smad2 protein, Xenopus; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C490808:smad4.1 protein, Xenopus; C117263:smad4.2 protein, Xenopus; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins; D004247:DNA; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I