title: Activin receptor-like kinase and the insulin gene.
abstract: The biological responses of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, which includes Activins and Nodal, are induced by activation of a receptor complex and Smads. A type I receptor, which is a component of the complex, is known as an activin receptor-like kinase (ALK); currently seven ALKs (ALK1-ALK7) have been identified in humans. Activins signaling, which is mediated by ALK4 and 7 together with ActRIIA and IIB, plays a critical role in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, development/neogenesis, and glucose homeostatic control of pancreatic endocrine cells; the insulin gene is regulated by these signaling pathways via ALK7, which is a receptor for Activins AB and B and Nodal. This review discusses signal transduction of ALKs in pancreatic endocrine cells and the role of ALKs in insulin gene regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D029404:Activin Receptors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D007527:Isoenzymes; D029404:Activin Receptors