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1: Cell. 2005 Apr 8;121(1):87-99.Click here to read Links
Comment in:
Cell. 2005 Apr 8;121(1):2-4.

Germ-layer specification and control of cell growth by Ectodermin, a Smad4 ubiquitin ligase.

Dupont S, Zacchigna L, Cordenonsi M, Soligo S, Adorno M, Rugge M, Piccolo S.

Department of Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnologies, Section of Histology and Embryology, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy.

TGF-beta signaling is essential for development and proliferative homeostasis. During embryogenesis, maternal determinants act in concert with TGF-beta signals to form mesoderm and endoderm. In contrast, ectoderm specification requires the TGF-beta response to be attenuated, although the mechanisms by which this is achieved remain unknown. In a functional screen for ectoderm determinants, we have identified Ectodermin (Ecto). In Xenopus embryos, Ecto is essential for the specification of the ectoderm and acts by restricting the mesoderm-inducing activity of TGF-beta signals to the mesoderm and favoring neural induction. Ecto is a RING-type ubiquitin ligase for Smad4, a TGF-beta signal transducer. Depletion of Ecto in human cells enforces TGF-beta-induced cytostasis and, moreover, plays a causal role in limiting the antimitogenic effects of Smad4 in tumor cells. We propose that Ectodermin is a key switch in the control of TGF-beta gene responses during early embryonic development and cell proliferation.

PMID: 15820681 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]