SMAD4, also known as deleted in pancreatic carcinoma locus 4 (DPC4), is a tumor suppressor and a signal transduction protein that functions as a central mediator of the TGF-β and bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling pathways.1,2 It is comprised of an N-terminal MH1 domain that binds DNA, a linker region containing a C-terminal SMAD activation domain essential to SMAD4 transcriptional activity, and a C-terminal MH2 domain that interacts with the MH1 domain of other SMAD proteins to facilitate homo- and heterodimerization.2 SMAD4 is ubiquitously expressed and localized to both the nucleus and cytosol.1 Upon TGF-β or BMP receptor activation, SMAD4 forms complexes with phosphorylated SMAD2 and SMAD3 or SMAD1, SMAD5, and SMAD8, respectively, which are translocated to the nucleus to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.2 Homozygous deletion of, or intragenic inactivation mutations in, SMAD4 have been found in pancreatic and colorectal cancers. Heterozygous mutations in SMAD4 have been found in approximately 20% of patients with juvenile polyposis syndrome and are positively correlated with manifestation of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.3 Cayman’s SMAD4 (C-Term) Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody can be used for immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot (WB) applications.WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.
