title: Smad6 interacts with Runx2 and mediates Smad ubiquitin regulatory factor 1-induced Runx2 degradation.
abstract: Runx2 is a bone-specific transcription factor that plays a critical role in bone development, postnatal bone formation, and chondrocyte maturation. The protein levels of Runx2 are regulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. In previous studies we discovered that E3 ubiquitin ligase Smad ubiquitin regulatory factor 1 (Smurf1) induces Runx2 degradation in a ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent manner, and Smurf1 plays an important role in osteoblast function and bone formation. In the present studies we investigated the molecular mechanism of Smurf1-induced Runx2 degradation. Smurf1 interacts with the PY motif of substrate proteins, and a PY motif has been identified in the C terminus of the Runx2 protein. To determine whether Smurf1 induces Runx2 degradation through the interaction with the PY motif of Runx2, we created a mutant Runx2 with a PY motif deletion and found that Smurf1 retained some of its ability to induce the degradation of the mutant Runx2, suggesting that Smurf1 could induce Runx2 degradation through an indirect mechanism. Smurf1 has been shown to interact with Smads 1, 5, 6, and 7, and Smads 1 and 5 also interact with Runx2. In the present studies we found that Smads 1 and 5 had no effect on Smurf1-induced Runx2 degradation. Although Smads 6 and 7 bind Smurf1, it is not known if Smads 6 or 7 interacts with Runx2 and mediate Runx2 degradation. We performed immunoprecipitation assays and found that Smad6 but not Smad7 interacts with Runx2. Smad6 enhances Smurf1-induced Runx2 degradation in an ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that in addition to its interaction with the PY motif of Runx2, Smurf1 induces Runx2 degradation in a Smad6-dependent manner. Smurf1-induced Runx2 degradation serves as a negative regulatory mechanism for the BMP-Smad-Runx2 signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Department of Pathology, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester, School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Run
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yong-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaneki
authors.forename: Lianping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Regis J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: O'keefe
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019556:COS Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051898:Smad1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051902:Smad5 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051905:Smad6 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D051906:Smad7 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000737:chemistry; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D051898:Smad1 Protein; D051902:Smad5 Protein; D051905:Smad6 Protein; D051906:Smad7 Protein; D025801:Ubiquitin; D008156:Luciferases; C498342:SMURF1 protein, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex