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Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
Published on: October 27, 2020
WDR74 functions as a novel coactivator in TGF-β signaling
Jinquan Liu1, Meiling Zhao2, Bo Yuan2
1MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Abstract:
Smads are critical intracellular signal transducers for transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in mammalian cells. In this study, we have identified WD repeat-containing protein 74 (WDR74) as a novel transcriptional coactivator for Smads in the canonical TGF-β signaling pathway. Through direct interactions with Smad proteins, WDR74 enhances TGF-β-mediated phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of Smad2 and Smad3. Consequently, WDR74 enables stronger transcriptional responses and more robust TGF-β-induced physiological responses. Our findings have elucidated a critical role of WDR74 in regulating TGF-β signaling.
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