The role of Smad Ubiquitin Regulatory Factor-1: SMURF1 in the differentiation 3T3-L1

Abstract

The Smad Ubiquitin Regulatory Factor-1: SMURF1 is an E3 ligase. This E3 ligase has been linked to several important biological pathways, including the bone morphogenetic protein pathway, the non-canonical Wnt pathway and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Multiple functions of Smurf1 have been discovered in cell growth and morphogenesis, cell migration, cell polarity and autophagy. Previous studies, in 2003, have demonstrated that overexpression of Smurf1 induces proteasomal degradation of Smad1 and Runx2 proteins. Runx-2 is a transcription factor that is essential for osteoblastic differentiation, bone formation and maintenance. Both the pre-adipocyte and osteoblast cells are originated from common mesenchymal progenitor cells and it has been recently demonstrated that Runx2 is also involved in adipocyte differentiation. The major goal of this project is the study the role which Smurf1 plays in the differentiation of 3T3L1 cells.