Role of Schnurri in regulating transcription of Decapentaplegic target gene. B. Gopalakrishnan ¹, H. Dai ², C. Hogan ², J. Torres-Vasquez ¹, M. Nguyen ¹, S. Park ¹, R. Warrior ², K. Arora ¹. 1) Developmental & Cell Biology, University of California,Irvine, Irvine, CA; 2) Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.

   Smad proteins play a vital role in mediating transcriptional response to signaling by ligands of the TGF-B superfamily. There is increasing evidence that additional factors may be required to regulate the temporal and spatial specificity of these responses. Data from genetic experiments support the idea that Schnurri (Shn), a zinc finger transcription factor, acts as a downstream component in the Decapentaplegic (Dpp) signaling pathway. Our model is that the activation of Dpp target genes may be mediated by transcriptional regulatory complexes comprising Mothers against dpp (Mad) and Shn. We will present biochemical evidence in favor of this model.