The Immunophilin FKBP12 Functions as a Common Inhibitor of the TGFβ Family Type I Receptors

AbstractThe immunophilin FKBP12 is an evolutionarily conserved abundant protein; however, its physiological roles remain poorly defined. Here we report that FKBP12 is a common cytoplasmic interactor of TGFβ family type I receptors. FKBP12 binds to ligand-free TGFβ type I receptor, from which it is released upon a ligand-induced, type II receptor mediated phosphorylation of the type I receptor. Blocking FKBP12/type I receptor interaction with FK506 nonfunctional derivatives enhances the ligand activity, indicating that FKBP12 binding is inhibitory to the signaling pathways of the TGFβ family ligands. Overexpression of a myristylated FKBP12 in Mv1Lu cell specifically inhibits two separate pathways activated by TGFβ, and two point mutations on FKBP12 (G89P, I90K) abolish the inhibitory activity of FKBP12, suggesting that FKBP12 may dock a cytoplasmic protein to the type I receptors to inhibit TGFβ family mediated signaling