Integration of Signaling Pathways Via Smad Proteins

Abstract

TGF-β ligands are involved in most aspects of embryonic development and post-natal homeostasis and numerous examples of crosstalk with other signaling pathways have been described. The Smad proteins are the most extensively characterized signal transducers downstream of the TGF-β superfamily of secreted growth factors. In most cases, Smad proteins have been shown to mediate this crosstalk via the formation of DNA-bound transcriptional complexes with transducers of other pathways, thereby modifying promoter selectivity and transcriptional output. We will examine the ability of Smads to integrate the signaling output of TGF-β ligands with other signaling pathways through direct interactions with other signal transducers