Anita Morén

TGF-β1 binding protein: A component of the large latent complex of TGF-β1 with multiple repeat sequences

Abstract TGF-β occurs in a latent complex of high M r . We report the cDNA cloning and an initial structural and functional characterization of a component of the large latent TGF-β1 complex, denoted TGF-β1 binding protein (TGF-β1-BP). Most of the sequence of fibroblast TGF-β1-BP is made up of cysteine-rich repeats of two different kinds; there are 16 EGF-like repeats and three repeats with a distant resemblance to EGF, but of a distinct type hitherto not found in any other protein. β-hydroxylated asparagine residues were identified in two of the EGF-like repeats. TGF-β1-BP purified from human platelets is considerably smaller than the fibroblast form (125–160 kd vs. 170–190 kd), suggesting that there is alternative splicing of the TGF-β1-BP gene or that TGF-β1-BP undergoes cell-specific proteolysis. TGF-β1-BP was found not to bind and inactivate TGF-β1; its role in the latent complex is discussed.

Role of Smad Proteins and Transcription Factor Sp1 in p21Waf1/Cip1 Regulation by Transforming Growth Factor-β

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) inhibits cell cycle progression, in part through up-regulation of gene expression of the p21WAF1/Cip1(p21) cell cycle inhibitor. Previously we have reported that the intracellular effectors of TGF-β, Smad3 and Smad4, functionally cooperate with Sp1 to activate the human p21 promoter in hepatoma HepG2 cells. In this study we show that Smad3 and Smad4 when overexpressed in HaCaT keratinocytes lead to activation of the p21 promoter. Activation requires the binding sites for the ubiquitous transcription factor Sp1 on the proximal promoter. Induction of the endogenous HaCaTp21 gene by TGF-β1 is further enhanced after overexpression of Smad3 and Smad4, whereas dominant negative mutants of Smad3 and Smad4 and the inhibitory Smad7 all inhibit p21induction by TGF-β1 in a dose-dependent manner. We show that Sp1 expressed in the Sp1-deficient Drosophila SL-2 cells binds to the proximal p21 promoter sequences, whereas Smad proteins do not. In support of this finding, we show that DNA-binding domain mutants of Smad3 and Smad4 are capable of transactivating the p21 promoter as efficiently as wild type Smads. Co-expression of Smad3 with Smad4 and Sp1 in SL-2 cells or co-incubation of phosphorylated Smad3, Smad4, and Sp1 in vitro results in enhanced binding of Sp1 to the p21 proximal promoter sequences. We demonstrate that Sp1 physically and directly interacts with Smad2, Smad3, and weakly with Smad4 via their amino-terminal (Mad-Homology 1) domain. Finally, by using GAL4 fusion proteins we show that the glutamine-rich sequences in the transactivation domain of Sp1 contribute to the cooperativity with Smad proteins. In conclusion, Smad proteins play important roles in regulation of the p21 gene by TGF-β, and the functional cooperation of Smad proteins with Sp1 involves the physical interaction of these two types of transcription factors.

Physical and Functional Interaction of Murine andXenopus Smad7 with Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors and Transforming Growth Factor-β Receptors

Members of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family transmit signals from membrane to nucleus via intracellular proteins known as Smads. A subclass of Smad proteins has recently been identified that antagonize, rather than transduce, TGF-β family signals. Smad7, for example, binds to and inhibits signaling downstream of TGF-β receptors. Here we report that the C-terminal MAD homology domain of murine Smad7 (mSmad7) is sufficient for both of these activities. In addition, we show that mSmad7 interacts with activated bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type I receptors (BMPR-Is), inhibits BMPR-I-mediated Smad phosphorylation, and phenocopies the effect of known BMP antagonists when overexpressed in ventral cells of Xenopus embryos. Xenopus Smad7 (XSmad7, previously termed Smad8) and mSmad7 are nearly identical within their bioactive C-domain, but have quite distinct N-domains. We found that XSmad7, similar to mSmad7, interacted with BMP and TGF-β type I receptors and inhibited receptor-mediated phosphorylation of downstream signal-transducing Smads. However, XSmad7 is a less efficient inhibitor of TβR-I-mediated responses in mammalian cells than is mSmad7. Furthermore, overexpression of XSmad7 in Xenopus embryos produces patterning defects that are not observed following overexpression of mSmad7, suggesting that mSmad7 and XSmad7 may preferentially target distinct signaling pathways. Our results are consistent with the possibility that the C-domain of antagonistic Smads is an effector domain whereas the N-domain may confer specificity for distinct signaling pathways.

Regulating the stability of TGFβ receptors and Smads

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) controls cellular behavior in embryonic and adult tissues. TGFβ binding to serine/threonine kinase receptors on the plasma membrane activates Smad molecules and additional signaling proteins that together regulate gene expression. In this review, mechanisms and models that aim at explaining the coordination between several components of the signaling network downstream of TGFβ are presented. We discuss how the activity and duration of TGFβ receptor/Smad signaling can be regulated by post-translational modifications that affect the stability of key proteins in the pathway. We highlight links between these mechanisms and human diseases, such as tissue fibrosis and cancer.

Expression of type I and type IB receptors for activin in midgestation mouse embryos suggests distinct functions in organogenesis

Activins exert their effects by inducing heteromeric complexes of either of two different type I receptors, ActR-I or ActR-IB, and either of two type II receptors, ActR-II or ActR-IIB. We describe the cDNA cloning of the mouse homologue of human ActR-IB and analyze binding of radio-iodinated activin on type I/type II combinations of mouse receptors expressed from cDNA. We studied the distribution of ActR-I and ActR-IB mRNAs in postimplantation mouse embryos by in situ hybridization. In the 12.5-day postcoitum embryo, both mRNAs are found in the brain, spinal cord, some ganglia, vibrissae, lungs, body wall, stomach, gonads, ribs, limbs and shoulders. ActR-I mRNA, but not ActR-IB, is expressed in blood vessels, the heart, tongue, intervertebral discs and diaphragm. Conversely, only ActR-IB mRNA is detected in the olfactory region, eye, tooth primordium, esophagus, mesonephros, dorsal root ganglia and is strongly expressed in the spinal cord. Our results demonstrate similarities, but also differences and complementarities (mesenchymal versus epithelial expression) between the expression patterns of these type I receptors. Moreover, their expression patterns overlap with at least one of the type II activin receptors and/or one of activin subunits in some regions of the embryo, such as the brain, spinal cord, pituitary, whisker follicles, and the inner nuclear neuroblastic layer of the eye.

Differential ubiquitination defines the functional status of the tumor suppressor Smad4

Smad4 is an essential signal transducer of all transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily pathways that regulate cell growth and differentiation, and it becomes inactivated in human cancers. Receptor-activated (R-) Smads can be poly-ubiquitinated in the cytoplasm or the nucleus, and this regulates their steady state levels or shutdown of the signaling pathway. Oncogenic mutations in Smad4 and other Smads have been linked to protein destabilization and proteasomal degradation. We analyzed a panel of missense mutants derived from human cancers that map in the N-terminal Mad homology (MH) 1 domain of Smad4 and result in protein instability. We demonstrate that all mutants exhibit enhanced poly-ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. In contrast, wild type Smad4 is a relatively stable protein that undergoes mono- or oligo-ubiquitination, a modification not linked to protein degradation. Analysis of Smad4 deletion mutants indicated efficient mono- or oligo-ubiquitination of the C-terminal MH2 domain. Mass spectrometric analysis of mono-ubiquitinated Smad4 MH2 domain identified lysine 507 as a major target for ubiquitination. Lysine 507 resides in the conserved L3 loop of Smad4 and participates in R-Smad C-terminal phosphoserine recognition. Mono- or oligo-ubiquitinated Smad4 exhibited enhanced ability to oligomerize with R-Smads, whereas mutagenesis of lysine 507 led to inefficient Smad4/R-Smad hetero-oligomerization and defective transcriptional activity. Finally, overexpression of a mutant ubiquitin that only leads to mono-ubiquitination of Smad4 enhanced Smad transcriptional activity. These data suggest that oligo-ubiquitination positively regulates Smad4 function, whereas poly-ubiquitination primarily occurs in unstable cancer mutants and leads to protein degradation.

Molecular cloning and characterization of the human and porcine transforming growth factor-β type III receptors

Full-length cDNAs for the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) type III receptors were isolated from porcine uterus and human placenta cDNA libraries. The human TGF-beta type III receptor coding region encodes a protein of 849 amino acids with a single transmembrane domain and a short stretch of the intracellular domain. Potential glycosaminoglycan attachment sites were found in the extracellular domain. The overall amino acid sequence identities with those of the porcine and rat TGF-beta type III receptors were 83% and 81%, respectively. A high degree of sequence conservation was observed in the transmembrane and intracellular domains, which also have sequence similarity with human endoglin. In addition, two portions with 29 and 52 amino acids in the extracellular domain were found to be substantially similar with human endoglin.

Functional consequences of tumorigenic missense mutations in the amino-terminal domain of Smad4

Smads, the intracellular effectors of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family members, are somatically mutated at high frequency in particular types of human cancers. Certain of these mutations affect the Smad amino-terminal domain, which, in the case of Smad3 and Smad4, binds DNA. We investigated the functional consequences of four missense mutations in the Smad4 amino-terminal domain found in human tumors. The mutant proteins were found to have impaired abilities to bind DNA although they were fully capable of forming complexes with Smad3. All four Smad4 mutants showed decreased protein stability compared to wild-type Smad4. Two of the Smad4 mutants (G65V and P130S) were translocated to the nucleus and were capable of transactivating a Smad-dependent promoter in a ligand-dependent manner. In contrast, the L43S and R100T mutants were not translocated efficiently to the nucleus and consequently resulted in severely defective transcriptional responses to TGF-β. Moreover, we demonstrate here the critical importance of two basic residues in the β-hairpin loop of Smad3 or Smad4 for DNA binding, consistent with predictions from the Smad3 crystal structure. In addition, our results reveal that in the TGF-β-induced heteromeric signaling complex, loss of DNA binding of Smad4 can be compensated by Smad3, however, both Smad3 and Smad4 are needed for efficient DNA binding and signaling. In conclusion, mutations in the amino-terminal domain of Smad4, that are found in cancer, show loss of multiple functional properties which may contribute to tumorigenesis.

cDNA cloning, expression studies and chromosome mapping of human type I serine/threonine kinase receptor ALK7 (ACVR1C)

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily related growth factors signal by binding to transmembrane type I and type II receptor serine/threonine kinases (RSTK), which phosphorylate intracellular Smad transcription factors in response to ligand binding. Here we describe the cloning of the human type I RSTK activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7), an orthologue of the previously identified rat ALK7. Nodal, a TGF-β member expressed during embryonic development and implicated in developmental events like mesoderm formation and left-right axis specification, was recently shown to signal through ALK7. We found ALK7 mRNA to be most abundantly expressed in human brain, pancreas and colon. A cDNA encoding the open reading frame of ALK7 was obtained from a human brain cDNA library. Furthermore, a P1 artificial chromosome (PAC) clone containing the human ALK7 gene was isolated and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) on metaphase chromosomes identified the gene locus as chromosome 2q24.1→q3. To test the functionality of the ALK7 signaling, we generated recombinant adenoviruses containing a constitutively active form of ALK7 (Ad-caALK7), which is capable of activating downstream targets in a ligand independent manner. Infection with Ad-caALK7 of MIN6 insulinoma cells, in which ALK7 has previously been shown to be endogenously expressed, led to a marked increase in the phosphorylation of Smad2, a signaling molecule also used by TGF-βs and activins.

Negative Regulation of TGFβ Signaling by the Kinase LKB1 and the Scaffolding Protein LIP1

Signal transduction by the Smad pathway elicits critical biological responses to many extracellular polypeptide factors, including TGFβ and bone morphogenetic protein. Regulation of Smad signaling imparts several cytoplasmic and nuclear mechanisms, some of which entail protein phosphorylation. Previous work established a protein complex between Smad4 and the scaffolding protein LKB1-interacting protein 1 (LIP1). LKB1 is a well studied tumor suppressor kinase that regulates cell growth and polarity. Here, we analyzed the LKB1-LIP1 and the Smad4-LIP1 protein complexes and found that LIP1 can self-oligomerize. We further demonstrate that LKB1 is capable of phosphorylating Smad4 on Thr77 of its DNA-binding domain. LKB1 inhibits Smad4 from binding to either TGFβ- or bone morphogenetic protein-specific promoter sequences, which correlates with the negative regulatory effect LKB1 exerts on Smad4-dependent transcription. Accordingly, LKB1 negatively regulates TGFβ gene responses and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Thus, LKB1 and LIP1 provide negative control of TGFβ signaling.