Specificity of Smad Proteins in Transforming Growth Factor-beta Signaling

Funded Activity Summary

Transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-beta) regulate a fascinating array of cellular processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, organization and death, as well as affect a wide range of biological functions, such as embryonic development, hematopoiesis and immune and inflammatory responses. Given the multifunctional nature of TGF-beta action, it is not surprising that the disruptions of TGF-beta functions have been implicated in many human disorders, particularly in colorectal and pancreatic cancers. The Smad proteins (there are ten of them) are critical components of TGF-beta cellular actions. In fact, Smad4 also called DPC4 for deleted in pancreatic carcinoma locus 4. This project addresses how each Smad protein works at molecular level in the cell, and which part of biological functions it regulates. Collectively, the outcomes of the project may provide clear and specific molecular targets to treat TGF-beta related diseases such as colorectal and pancreatic cancers.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2001

End Date: 01-01-2003

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $212,036.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Protein Targeting And Signal Transduction

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Colorectal and pancreatic cancers | Head and neck, breast, prostatic cancers | Inflammatory dieases | Molecular mechanism and determinants | Smad signaling specificity | Spatial distribution of signaling complexes | TGF-beta and cancer | TGF-beta signaling specificity

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