Transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β） binds with two transmembrane serine/threonine kinase receptors, type Ⅱ （TβRII） and type Ⅰ receptors （TβRⅠ）, and one accessory receptor, type Ⅲ receptor （TβRⅢ）, to...Transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β） binds with two transmembrane serine/threonine kinase receptors, type Ⅱ （TβRII） and type Ⅰ receptors （TβRⅠ）, and one accessory receptor, type Ⅲ receptor （TβRⅢ）, to transduce signals across cell membranes. Previous biochemical studies suggested that TβRI and TβRIII are preexisted homo-dimers. Using single-molecule microscopy to image green fluorescent protein-labeled membrane proteins, for the first time we have demonstrated that TβRI and TβRⅢ could exist as monomers at a low expression level. Upon TGF-β1 stimu- lation, TβRI follows the general ligand-induced receptor dimerization model for activation, but this process is TβRⅡ- dependent. The monomeric status of the non-kinase receptor TβRⅢ is unchanged in the presence of TGF-β1. With the increase of receptor expression, both TβRI and TβRIII can be assembled into dimers on cell surfaces.展开更多
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （90713024, 20821003, 30921004）, the National Basic Research Program of China （2007CB935601, 2010CB833706） and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
文摘Transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β） binds with two transmembrane serine/threonine kinase receptors, type Ⅱ （TβRII） and type Ⅰ receptors （TβRⅠ）, and one accessory receptor, type Ⅲ receptor （TβRⅢ）, to transduce signals across cell membranes. Previous biochemical studies suggested that TβRI and TβRIII are preexisted homo-dimers. Using single-molecule microscopy to image green fluorescent protein-labeled membrane proteins, for the first time we have demonstrated that TβRI and TβRⅢ could exist as monomers at a low expression level. Upon TGF-β1 stimu- lation, TβRI follows the general ligand-induced receptor dimerization model for activation, but this process is TβRⅡ- dependent. The monomeric status of the non-kinase receptor TβRⅢ is unchanged in the presence of TGF-β1. With the increase of receptor expression, both TβRI and TβRIII can be assembled into dimers on cell surfaces.
