A phosphatase controls the fate of receptor-regulated Smads.
In this issue of Cell, Lin et al. (2006) answer one of the long-standing questions in the TGFbeta field by identifying a phosphatase, PPM1A, that directly dephosphorylates Smad2 and Smad3 to limit their activation.
Schilling
Stephen H
SH
Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Datto
Michael B
MB
Wang
Xiao-Fan
XF
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases