Single-molecule imaging reveals transforming growth factor-β-induced type II receptor dimerization
- 15 September 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Vol. 106 (37), 15679-15683
- https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0908279106
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) elicits its signals through two transmembrane serine/threonine kinase receptors, type II (TβRII) and type I receptors. It is generally believed that the initial receptor dimerization is an essential event for receptor activation. However, previous studies suggested that TGF-β signals by binding to the preexisting TβRII homodimer. Here, using single molecule microscopy to image green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled TβRII on the living cell surface, we demonstrated that the receptor could exist as monomers at the low expression level in resting cells and dimerize upon TGF-β stimulation. This work reveals a model in which the activation of serine-threonine kinase receptors is also accomplished via dimerization of monomers, suggesting that receptor dimerization is a general mechanism for ligand-induced receptor activation.Keywords
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