Long Citation
Jeff Wrana has played a key role in deciphering the signaling pathways activated by the TGFß superfamily of secreted growth factors, and has made lasting contributions to our understanding of signal transduction. In early work, Jeff elucidated the mechanism by which TGFß signals through activation of transmembrane serine/threonine kinase receptors. He went on to identify the mammalian Smad signaling pathway. He isolated the first R-Smad (originally MADR1), and showed that R-Smads are substrates of serine/threonine kinase receptors that transduce signals directly from the receptor into the nucleus. More recently he has discovered proteins, such as SARA and the Smurf E3 ubiquitin ligases, which regulate TGFß receptor/Smad signaling. Jeff’s work has been pivotal in demonstrating the importance of TGFß receptor/Smad signaling in normal vertebrate development, and in human cancers.

Short Citation
Jeff Wrana has played a key role in deciphering the signaling pathways activated by the TGFß superfamily of secreted growth factors, and has made lasting contributions to our understanding of signal transduction. In his recent work he has discovered proteins, such as SARA and the Smurf E3 ubiquitin ligases, which regulate TGFß receptor/Smad signaling. Jeff’s work has been pivotal in demonstrating the importance of TGFß receptor/Smad signaling in normal vertebrate development, and in human cancers.