Tumor suppressor bromodomain-containing protein 7 cooperates with Smads to promote transforming growth factor-β responses

Smad proteins are central mediators in the canonical transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling pathway in mammalian cells. We report here that bromodomain-ontaining protein 7 (BRD7) functions as a novel transcription coactivator for Smads in TGF-beta signaling. BRD7 forms a TGF-beta inducible complex with Smad3/ 4 through its N-terminal Smad-binding domain. BRD7 simultaneously binds to acetylated histones to promote Smad-chromatin association, and associates with histone acetyltransferase p300 to enhance Smad transcriptional activity. Ectopic expression of BRD7, but not its mutants defective in Smad binding, enhances TGF-beta transcriptional, tumor-suppressing and epithelial-mesenchymal transition responses. Conversely, depletion of BRD7 inhibits TGF-beta responses. Thus, our study provides compelling evidence for a new function of BRD7 in fine-tuning TGF-beta physiological responses.