Cell, Vol
113, 685–700, June 13, 2003, Copyright 2003 by Cell PressReviewMechanisms of TGF- Signalingfrom Cell Membrane to the Nucleushave been observed in both TGF- family receptors andthe Smad proteins
The TGF- type II receptor is inacti-vated by mutation in most human gastrointestinalcan-Yigong Shi, 1,* and Joan Massague´2,*1Lewis Thomas LaboratoryDepartment of Molecular BiologyPrinceton Universitycers with microsatelliteinstability and Smad4 in nearlyhalf of all pancreatic carcinomas
Many other somaticWashington RoadPrinceton, New Jersey 08544and hereditarydisorders are a result of mutations ormalfunctionsin the TGF- pathway (reviewed in Mas-2Cell Biology ProgramHoward Hughes Medical Institutesague´ et al
, 2000)
Naturally occurring disease muta-tions in Smads and TGF- family