title: Interdependent SMAD and JNK signaling in transforming growth factor-beta-mediated transcription.
abstract: SMAD and JNK cascades are essential components of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling machinery and are implicated in common transcriptional responses. However, the relationship of these pathways to one another downstream of the TGF-beta receptor complex is unknown. We show that JNK is rapidly activated by TGF-beta in a SMAD-independent manner and phosphorylates Smad3 outside its -SSXS motif. Smad3 phosphorylation by JNK facilitates both its activation by the TGF-beta receptor complex and its nuclear accumulation. JNK regulates SMAD- and TGF-beta-mediated transcriptional responses, yet JNK activators only partially stimulate transcriptional responses characteristic of TGF-beta without coincident SMAD pathway activation. These results suggest an interdependent relationship between the JNK and SMAD pathways in TGF-beta-mediated transcription.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-6838, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McDonnell
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Moses
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein