Talk:Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3

Loeys-Dietz type 3
Someone should add content about Loeys-Dietz Syndrome (type III) (LDS-3) in this page. This syndrome is caused by a mutation (so far, 8 mutations were recorded) in the SMAD3 gene. These mutations cause a more subtle version of LDS (types 1 and 2 are early onset and often severe, but the syndrome has highly variable penetration among affected people). 192.226.181.116 (talk) 02:58, 6 September 2013 (UTC)

Mother's against decapentaplegic homolog 3 Nomenclature
The SMAD family of proteins have a very unusual official name. The name sounds almost absurd, however, it's the official name of the protein. In the early days of especially, Drosophila research, scientists involved in naming these protein products decided to give these proteins 'cutesy' or 'funny' names. This practice is no longer encouraged as most genes today are named systematically and given names that describe the genes/protein's function. A well known example is Sonic hedgehog which is literally named after the video game character Sonic the Hedgehog (character).

Note to Patrollers
Before you delete this page check out the links on the page to see if the information on it is accurate, in particular, the name.


 * I have already apologised to you for nominating for deletion. But may I suggest in all seriousness that, given the weird name of the protein class, a note within the body of the article explaining the name may be helpful?--Anthony.bradbury 00:42, 24 June 2006 (UTC)


 * Please do add something about the nomenclature of this. I came here from Unusual articles and am none the wiser as to why this is named the way it is. Witt y lama 13:56, 24 June 2006 (UTC)


 * I added something about the nomenclature. GAThrawn22 16:15, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

And if you were looking for a layperson's perspective...
This text I copied/pasted from the introduction.

''SMAD3 or Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 is a polypeptide that, as its name describes, is a homolog of the Drosophila protein: "Mothers against decepentaplegic". It belongs to the SMAD family of proteins, which belong to the TGFβ superfamily of modulators. Like many other TGFβ family members SMAD3 is involved in cell signalling. SMAD3 modulates signals of activin and TGFβ's. Binding of this protein with SMAD4 enables its transmigration into the nucleus where it forms complexes with other proteins and acts as a transcription factor. SMAD3 is a receptor regulated SMAD (R-SMAD).''

Objections:


 * 1) What's a polypeptide?
 * 2) A homolog of the Drosophila protein? What?
 * 3) What's a "superfamily of modulators"?
 * 4) What's activin? What does modulating the signal mean in this case?  Surely not electric brownouts?
 * 5) Transmigration into the nucleus? A transcription factor?
 * 6) Receptor regulated SMAD? What's that?

Big impression: I don't want to have to follow each and every one of these links to understand this article, but so far I have to... ~user:orngjce223how am I typing? 01:49, 8 January 2007 (UTC)


 * Well, we wouldn't want to have that information duplicated over all SMAD# and related articles. –Pomte 07:15, 19 March 2007 (UTC)


 * I've made a stab at writing a simpler intro, as well as some clarifications (SMAD3 is not just the name for a protein, it's the name for the gene that codes for that protein). It could still probably use some work, but I'd be happy to replicate the intro and add some gene info from OMIM to the other SMAD family members. NoDepositNoReturn 22:55, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

Another suggestion
Maybe what should be done is re-writing the TGF-beta/BMP pages. Explaining the role SMAD proteins have in this signaling pathway. I absolutely do not agree with the notion SMADs are of low importance in cell signaling. Without SMAD1 there will be osteogenic abnormalities, without SMAD3 there will be abnormalities in the extracellular matrix and further more there may very well be a link via SMADs with Wnt-signaling. In this respect it might a wise idea to merge the MAD-pages to one, explaining there role in TGF-beta/BMP-signaling. --Swvanderlaan 20:47, 21 August 2007 (UTC)