| First Author | Yeo C | Year | 2001 |
| Journal | Mol Cell | Volume | 7 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 949-57 |
| PubMed ID | 11389842 | Mgi Jnum | J:190004 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5447629 | Doi | 10.1016/s1097-2765(01)00249-0 |
| Citation | Yeo C, et al. (2001) Nodal signals to Smads through Cripto-dependent and Cripto-independent mechanisms. Mol Cell 7(5):949-57 |
| abstractText | Nodal ligands are essential for the patterning of chordate embryos. Genetic evidence indicates that EGF-CFC factors are required for Nodal signaling, but the molecular basis for this requirement is unknown. We have investigated the role of Cripto, an EGF-CFC factor, in Nodal signaling. We find that Cripto interacts with the type I receptor ALK4 via the conserved CFC motif in Cripto. Cripto interaction with ALK4 is necessary both for Nodal binding to the ALK4/ActR-IIB receptor complex and for Smad2 activation by Nodal. We also find that Nodal can inhibit BMP signaling by a Cripto-independent mechanism. Inhibition appears to be mediated by heterodimerization between Nodal and BMPs, indicating that antagonism between Nodal and BMPs can occur at the level of dimeric ligand production. |
