The tumor suppressor Smad4/DPC4 and transcriptional adaptor CBP/p300 are coactivators for Smad3 in TGF-β-induced transcriptional activation

Smads regulate transcription of defined genes in response to TGF-beta receptor activation, although the mechanisms of Smad-mediated transcription are not well understood. We demonstrate that the TGF-beta-inducible Smad3 uses the tumor suppressor Smad4/DPC4 and CBP/p300 as transcriptional coactivators, which associate with Smad3 in response to TGF-beta. The association of CBP with Smad3 was localized to the carboxyl terminus of Smad3, which is required for transcriptional activation, and a defined segment in CBP. Furthermore, CBP/p300 stimulated both TGF-beta- and Smad-induced transcription in a Smad4/DPC4-dependent fashion. Smad3 transactivation and TGF-beta-induced transcription were inhibited by expressing E1A, which interferes with CBP functions. The coactivator functions and physical interactions of Smad4 and CBP/p300 with Smad3 allow a model for the induction of gene expression in response to TGF-beta.