TGFb / BMP Signaling

The TGFβ superfamily comprises 4 signaling pathways: TGFβ, Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP), Activin, and Nodal. This family of secreted proteins regulates immune function, cell proliferation, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. BMPs play roles in embryogenesis as well as tissue and organ morphogenesis, whereas TGFβ signaling regulates cell growth and differentiation. Activin and Nodal signaling are also involved in cellular development. Activation of TGFβ cytokines occurs via proteolytic cleavage of their precursors, and their signaling results in activation of SMAD dependent and independent transcription. Many genes are targets of TGFβ activation, including genes involved in cell adhesion, apoptosis, and developmental processes. Dysregulation of TGF signal transduction is associated with a number of diseases including fibrosis and cancer.

QIAGEN provides a broad range of assay technologies for TGFβ / BMP signaling research that enables analysis of gene expression and regulation, epigenetic modification, genotyping, and signal transduction pathway activation. Solutions optimized for TGFβ / BMP signaling studies include PCR array, miRNA, siRNA, mutation analysis, pathway reporter, chromatin IP, DNA methylation, and protein expression products.