Taxonomic distribution of proteins containing TGFB domains

The tree below includes only several representative species and genera. The complete taxonomic breakdown of all proteins containing TGFB domains can be accessed here. Click the counts or percentage values to display the corresponding proteins.

Mechanism and function of signaling by the TGF beta superfamily.

Hoodless PA, Wrana JL
Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 1998; 228: 235-72

Genetic and biochemical analysis of TGF beta signal transduction.

Padgett RW, Savage C, Das P
Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 1997; 8: 1-9

TGF beta-like ligands are involved in many different developmental processes that pattern a variety of tissues in invertebrates and vertebrates. In the last few years, rapid progress has been made toward elucidating the developmental roles of the TGF beta-like pathways and identifying the novel components involved in transducing their signals, particularly the newly discovered Smads. This rapid progress has been the result of a synergy between classical genetic approaches and biochemical approaches, and this combined approach is likely to propel future understanding of the signaling pathway used by TGF beta.

Regulation of differentiation by TGF-beta.

Moses HL, Serra R
Curr Opin Genet Dev. 1996; 6: 581-6

Recent experiments in neural, skeletal, endothelial, and hematopoietic tissues have provided new insights into the way members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily regulate cellular differentiation. TGF-betas regulate the fate of multipotential stem cells instructively (in the neural crest) by regulating the expression or function of tissue-specific transcription factors, as well as selectively (in the mesenchyme) by regulating the expression of required growth factors and their receptors. During skeletal development, TGF-betas have unique functions and act sequentially to modulate chondrocyte and osteoblast differentiation. Responsiveness to TGF-betas changes as cells differentiate and evidence now suggests that changes in TGF-beta receptor profile may account for some of these differences. Drosophila and transgenic mouse models are now providing useful insights into mechanisms of TGF-beta action in vivo.

Human transforming growth factor-beta complementary DNA sequence and expression in normal and transformed cells.

Derynck R, Jarrett JA, Chen EY, Eaton DH, Bell JR, Assoian RK, Roberts AB, Sporn MB, Goeddel DV
Nature. 1985; 316: 701-5

The partial amino-acid sequence of purified human transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) was used to identify a series of cDNA clones encoding the protein. The cDNA sequence indicates that the 112-amino acid monomeric form of the natural TGF-beta homodimer is derived proteolytically from a much longer precursor polypeptide which may be secreted. TGF-beta messenger RNA is synthesized in various normal and transformed cells.