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Mechanism of activation of the TGF-β receptor

Nature volume 370, pages 341–347 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signals by contacting two distantly related transmem-brane serine/threonine kinases called receptors I and II. The role of these molecules in signalling has now been determined. TGF-β binds directly to receptor II, which is a constitutively active kinase. Bound TGF-β is then recognized by receptor I which is recruited into the complex and becomes phosphorylated by receptor II. Phosphorylation allows receptor I to propagate the signal to downstream substrates. This provides a mechanism by which a cytokine can generate the first step of a signalling cascade.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Cell Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, 10021, USA

    Jeffrey L. Wrana, Liliana Attisano, Rotraud Wieser, Francesc Ventura & Joan Massagué

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  1. Jeffrey L. Wrana
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  2. Liliana Attisano
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  3. Rotraud Wieser
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  4. Francesc Ventura
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  5. Joan Massagué
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Wrana, J., Attisano, L., Wieser, R. et al. Mechanism of activation of the TGF-β receptor. Nature 370, 341–347 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/370341a0

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