ten Dijke P, Miyazono K, Heldin C H
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Box 595, S-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
Trends Biochem Sci. 2000 Feb;25(2):64-70. doi: 10.1016/s0968-0004(99)01519-4.
Recent studies have consolidated the pivotal role of Smads as intracellular effectors of TGF-beta family members. Upon binding to their specific type I and type II serine/threonine kinase receptors, each family member activates a particular subset of Smad proteins. Activated, receptor-regulated Smads form hetero-oligomeric complexes with common-partner Smads that translocate into the nucleus, where they control the expression of target genes in a cell-type-specific manner. Smads appear to function not only as nuclear effectors for TGF-beta family members, but as signal integrators within an extensive intracellular network.
最近的研究巩固了Smads作为转化生长因子-β（TGF-β）家族成员细胞内效应器的关键作用。每个家族成员在与它们特定的I型和II型丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶受体结合后，会激活特定的Smad蛋白亚群。被激活的、受体调节型Smads与共同伴侣Smads形成异源寡聚体复合物，这些复合物会转移到细胞核中，在那里它们以细胞类型特异性的方式控制靶基因的表达。Smads似乎不仅作为TGF-β家族成员的核效应器发挥作用，还作为广泛细胞内网络中的信号整合器。
