Region between α‐helices 3 and 4 of the Mad homology 2 domain of Smad4: functional roles in oligomer formation and transcriptional activation

Abstract

Smad4-HL2 spontaneously forms a homo-oligomer, which may bind to DNA with relatively high affinity and induce transcriptional activation of p3TP-Lux. The H3/4 loop of Smad4 may thus play a role in precluding the spontaneous oligomer formation of Smad4.