The oncoprotein c-ski functions as a direct antagonist of the transforming growth factor-{beta} type I receptor.

Abstract

The oncoprotein c-Ski has been implicated in the negative regulation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling owing to its ability to repress Smad transcriptional activity via recruitment of a transcriptional corepressor complex containing histone deacetylases. However, c-Ski has also been shown to localize to the cytoplasm, raising the interesting possibility that it might disable TGF-β signaling through alternative mechanisms. Here, we provide evidence that c-Ski can restrict TGF-β signaling by interacting directly with the activated TGF-β type I receptor (TβRI). We explored the physiologic relevance of the c-Ski/TβRI interaction and found that it can culminate in a constitutive association of TβRI with a nonfunctional R-Smad/Smad4 complex. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that the interaction between c-Ski and TβRI might interfere with nuclear translocation of the R-Smad/Smad4 complex, thereby attenuating TGF-β signaling. Such a mechanism may play a crucial role in tumor progression, because many tumors that express high levels of c-Ski also display impaired nuclear accumulation of Smads.