title: Smurf2 is a ubiquitin E3 ligase mediating proteasome-dependent degradation of Smad2 in transforming growth factor-beta signaling.
abstract: Smads are important intracellular signaling effectors for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and related factors. Proper TGF-beta signaling requires precise control of Smad functions. In this study, we have identified a novel HECT class ubiquitin E3 ligase, designated Smurf2, that negatively regulates Smad2 signaling. In both yeast two-hybrid and in vitro binding assays, we found that Smurf2 could interact with receptor-activated Smads (R-Smads), including Smad1, Smad2, and Smad3 but not Smad4. Ectopic expression of Smurf2 was sufficient to reduce the steady-state levels of Smad1 and Smad2 but not Smad3 or Smad4. Significantly, Smurf2 displayed preference to Smad2 as its target for degradation. Furthermore, Smurf2 exhibited higher binding affinity to activated Smad2 upon TGF-beta stimulation. The ability of Smurf2 to promote Smad2 destruction required the HECT catalytic activity of Smurf2 and depended on the proteasome-dependent pathway. Consistent with these results, Smurf2 potently reduced the transcriptional activity of Smad2. These data suggest that a ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent mechanism is important for proper regulation of TGF-beta signaling.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. xialin@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: X H
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D008025:Ligases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; C497782:SMAD2 protein, human; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014452:Ubiquitins; C471641:SMURF2 protein, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D008025:Ligases