TGFßs are possibly the most pleiotropic, multifunctional secreted proteins known in that they are produced by and act on a wide variety of cell types. The members of the TGFß family are expressed in distinct temporal and tissue-specific patterns and therefore play an important role in the development, homeostasis and repair of most tissues in organisms, from Drosophila to Humans. The TGFß family members include Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs), Activins, Inhibins, Müllerian-Inhibiting Substance (MIS) and the Growth and Differentiation Factors (GDFs).
The TGFß ligands signal through a complex of two related transmembrane serine/threonine kinase receptors, which upon activation phosphorylate their downstream effectors, the Smad proteins. Heteromeric complexes of receptor-activated Smads (R-Smads) with Smad4, a common mediator for several pathways (Co-Smad), translocate into the nucleus to regulate specific target genes.
Our lab is interested in signalling via the BMP and TGFß receptors in different cellular systems: in the immune system we are interested in understanding the function of TGFß during maturation of cytotoxic T-cells; in bone we are investigating the oligomerization and activation of BMP and TGFß receptors; in neuronal cells we are searching for the receptor for GDF5 and are analyzing the crosstalk between the NGF and TGFß signalling pathway; during Drosophila-embryogenesis we are investigating the DPP morphogen gradient in the wing imaginal disc.

BMP	Dr. Karen Ruschke Dr. Carola Krause Asja Guzman Jan Börgermann Mohammad Belverdi Jessica Kopf Christian Hiepen Jessica Becker Raghu Bhushan Pia Paarmann Agnieszka Denkis Gina Döerpholz
GDF	Jan Börgermann Gerburg Schwärzer
TGFß	Dr. Daniel Horbelt