[Signal transduction of BMP/Smad and its relationship with mammalian folliculogenesis].
BMPs belong to the transforming growth factor-b superfamily. BMPs have been proved to have extensive biological functions in mammals, including growth regulation, cell proliferation and differentiation. More and more evidence has shown that BMPs play a key role in fertility, especially in folliculogenesis in female mammals. Smad proteins are intra-cellular signaling transduction molecules of BMP family, which can transduce the BMP signal from the cell membrane to the nucleus. In this review, BMPs, BMP/Smad-related signal transduction and the regulation of BMP activity were summarized, and the regulatory roles of BMP/Smad signal transduction pathway in folliculogenesis were discussed.
Wang
Wei
W
College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China. harryww2007@yahoo.cn
Wang
Shao-Bing
SB
Xu
Yin-Xue
YX
D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D051785:Smad Proteins