title: Two distinct domains in pro-region of Nodal-related 3 are essential for BMP inhibition.
abstract: The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily member, Xenopus nodal-related 3 (Xnr3), induces neural tissues through inhibition of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). We recently identified an inhibitory mechanism in which the pro-region of Xenopus tropicalis nodal-related 3 (Xtnr3) physically interacts with BMP ligands. Here, we show that disulfide-linked heterodimerization does not contribute to BMP inhibition by Xtnr3 and that the Xtnr3 mature region, overexpression of which can induce the same phenotype as full-length Xtnr3, does not inhibit BMP signaling. Furthermore, we find that the BMP-inhibitory domains of Xtnr3 are separately located in the N- and C-terminal regions of the pro-region. These results indicate the pro-region of Nodal-related 3 is both necessary and sufficient for its BMP inhibition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences (Biology), Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Haramoto
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asashima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D019281:Dimerization; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009154:Mutation; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C094620:nodal3.1 protein, Xenopus