title: Activin receptor signaling.
abstract: Activin is a member of the TGF-beta superfamily and has various effects on diverse biological systems. Activins initiate their cellular responses by binding to their receptors with intrinsic serine/threonine kinase activity and activation of specific downstream intracellular effectors termed Smad proteins. Smads relay the signal from the cell membrane to the nucleus, where they affect the transcription of target genes. Negative regulation of activin signal occurs at the extracellular, membrane, cytoplasmic and nuclear levels. The presence of many mechanisms for regulation shows its importance to normal physiology. Here, we review the latest advances in activin signal transduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-851 1, Japan.
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minegishi
authors.forename: Peter C K
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D029404:Activin Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D038681:Follistatin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D038681:Follistatin; D011509:Proteoglycans; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; C071736:betaglycan; D007265:Inhibins; D029404:Activin Receptors