title: Microtubule binding to Smads may regulate TGF beta activity.
abstract: Smad proteins are intracellular signaling effectors of the TGF beta superfamily. We show that endogenous Smad2, 3, and 4 bind microtubules (MTs) in several cell lines. Binding of Smads to MTs does not require TGF beta stimulation. TGF beta triggers dissociation from MTs, phosphorylation, and nuclear translocation of Smad2 and 3, with consequent activation of transcription in CCL64 cells. Destabilization of the MT network by nocodazole, colchicine, or a tubulin mutant disrupts the complex between Smads and MTs and increases TGF beta-induced Smad2 phosphorylation and transcriptional response in CCL64 cells. These data demonstrate that MTs may serve as a cytoplasmic sequestering network for Smads, controlling Smad2 association with and phosphorylation by activated TGF beta receptor I, and suggest a novel mechanism for the MT network to negatively regulate TGF beta function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: X H
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Goldschmidt-Clermont
mesh_terms: D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015739:Nocodazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; C497782:SMAD2 protein, human; C497790:SMAD3 protein, human; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; D051899:Smad2 Protein; C497783:Smad2 protein, mouse; D051900:Smad3 Protein; C497791:Smad3 protein, mouse; D051901:Smad4 Protein; C490810:Smad4 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D017239:Paclitaxel; D015739:Nocodazole