In normal cells and in the early stages of cancer development, signaling by TGF-beta plays a tumor suppressive role, as SMAD2/3:SMAD4-mediated transcription inhibits cell division by downregulating MYC oncogene transcription and stimulating transcription of CDKN2B tumor suppressor gene. In advanced cancers however, TGF-beta signaling promotes metastasis by stimulating epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). TGFBR1 is recruited to tight junctions by binding PARD6A, a component of tight junctions. After TGF-beta stimulation, activated TGFBR2 binds TGFBR1 at tight junctions, and phosphorylates both TGFBR1 and PARD6A. Phosphorylated PARD6A recruits SMURF1 to tight junctions. SMURF1 is able to ubiquitinate RHOA, a component of tight junctions needed for tight junction maintenance, leading to disassembly of tight junctions, an important step in EMT (Wang et al. 2003, Ozdamar et al. 2005).
Barrios-Rodiles, M, Zhang, Y, Wrana, JL, Wang, HR, Bose, R, Ozdamar, B
Zhang, Y, Thomsen, GH, Wrana, JL, Wang, HR, Ogunjimi, AA, Ozdamar, B, Alexandrova, E
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