On December 1st 2016, Drs. Xin-Hua Feng and Pinglong Xu published an invited review in Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology entitled “Posttranslational Regulation of Smads”. CSH Perspect Biol is a reputed review journal from CSH press with an IF9.173.

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family signaling dictates highly complex programs of gene expression responses, which are extensively regulated at multiple levels and vary depending on the physiological context. Dysfunction of Smad and TGF-β receptor complexes often leads or contributes to pathogenesis in cancer and fibrosis and in cardiovascular, and autoimmune diseases. The review discuss recent insights into the roles of posttranslational modifications in the functions of the receptor-activated Smads, the common Smad4, and inhibitory Smads, and in the control of the physiological responses to TGF-β. It is now evident that these modifications act as decisive factors in defining the intensity and versatility of TGF-b responsiveness. Thus, the characterization of posttranslational modifications of Smads not only sheds light on how TGF-β controls physiological and pathological processes but may also guide us to manipulate the TGF-β responses for therapeutic benefits.

Dr. Pinglong Xu is the first author and Dr. Xin-Hua Feng is the corresponding author of this review article, which was supported by the MOST 973 plan (2012CB966600，2015CB553800), NSFC Project (91540205,81472665), and the National 1000 Young Talents Program.

Figure legends: Known Smad2/3 modifications, the modifiers, and the roles in regulation of TGF-β signaling.

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