title: Transduction pathway of anti-Müllerian hormone, a sex-specific member of the TGF-beta family.
abstract: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), also called Müllerian inhibiting substance, is a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) family that represses the development and function of reproductive organs. Not for nothing did Professor Alfred Jost, who first discovered its existence, christen it 'hormone inhibitrice'! Anti-Müllerian hormone is thought to exert its effects through two membrane-bound serine/threonine kinase receptors, type 2 and type 1. Upon ligand binding, these drive receptor-specific cytoplasmic substrates, the Smad molecules, into the nucleus where they act as transcription factors. A type 2 receptor specific for AMH was cloned through its homology with receptors of TGF-beta family members; the identity of the type 1 receptor(s) is controversial. Three type 1 receptors for bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are possible candidates, each, not surprisingly, activating BMP-specific Smad molecules, Smads 1, 5 and 8. Each receptor could be involved, depending on the cellular context. To date, AMH signaling has been explored through BMP-specific genes, because a reporter gene related to a physiological AMH function and upregulated by the hormone has not yet been tested in a cell line strongly expressing the AMH receptor(s).
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherches sur l'Endocrinologie du Développement (INSERM), Institut Paris-Sud sur les Cytokines, 32 rue des Carnets, 92140 Clamart, France. nathalie.josso@inserm.ipsc.u-psud.fr
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Josso
authors.forename: Nathalie di
authors.initials: Nd
authors.lastname: Clemente
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005091:Exons; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000502:physiology; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013735:Testicular Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D013735:Testicular Hormones; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C084621:anti-Mullerian hormone receptor; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone