Tbx1 regulates the BMP-Smad1 pathway in a transcription independent manner
Authors: Antonio Baldini
F Gabriella Fulcoli
Tuong Huynh
Peter J Scambler
Journal: PloS one (2009)
Discipline: Multidisciplinary
Keywords: Tbx1; transcription factor; DiGeorge syndrome; Smad1; Bmp4
Affiliations: Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Naples, Italy.

Abstract:  Tbx1 is a T-box transcription factor implicated in DiGeorge syndrome. The molecular function of Tbx1 is unclear although it can transactivate reporters with T-box binding elements. We discovered that Tbx1 binds Smad1 and suppresses the Bmp4/Smad1 signaling. Tbx1 interferes with Smad1 to Smad4 binding, and a mutation of Tbx1 that abolishes transactivation, does not affect Smad1 binding nor does affect the ability to suppress Smad1 activity. In addition, a disease-associated mutation of TBX1 that does not prevent transactivation, prevents the TBX1-SMAD1 interaction. Expression of Tbx1 in transgenic mice generates phenotypes similar to those associated with loss of a Bmp receptor. One phenotype could be rescued by transgenic Smad1 expression. Our data indicate that Tbx1 interferes with Bmp/Smad1 signaling and provide strong evidence that a T-box transcription factor has functions unrelated to transactivation. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 ![file] , 
 #1 Dear Tricheilostoma bicolor, We are perplexed by your  comment , which has no text. The picture that you posted has two square boxes with some little circles on two similar, but not identical bands of a western blot. We are sending a magnification of the original image submitted to the journal and a scan of the autorad. What exactly is your point? Antonio Baldini ![file] ![file] , 
 19 March 2020 retraction. https: journals.plos.org plosone article?id=10.1371 journal.pone.0230974 Retraction: Tbx1 Regulates the BMP-Smad1 Pathway in a Transcription Independent Manner https: journals.plos.org Following the publication of this article [1], concerns have been raised regarding Figs 1, 2, and 3. Discrepancies have been detected in the background of both lanes presented in Fig 1B, particularly around regions marked as 70kDa and 20kDa. The underlying data to support Fig 1B are not available. Horizontal and vertical discrepancies have been detected in the background surrounding lane 3 of Fig 2A. The corresponding author has indicated that the figure was prepared using immunostaining from two different filters. The underlying data of lane 1 and lane 2 support the published figure, the underlying data to support lane 3 are no longer available. In Fig 2B, panels IP:anti-Flag Detect: anti-c-myc and IP: anti-c-myc Detect: anti-Flag, there are apparent smears in the background around lane 4 of the IP:anti-Flag Detect: anti-c-myc panel, and around lane 3 of the IP: anti-c-myc Detect: anti-Flag panel. The scans of the underlying blots at different exposures confirm the smears were present on the original blot. The bands in lanes 3 and 4 of the WB: anti-Smad4 panel of Fig 3C appear similar. The original blot underlying Fig 3C is not available, and a previous scan of the underlying data does not match the published panel. In light of the unresolved concerns that question the integrity of these data, the PLOS ONE Editors retract this article. FGF, TH, and PJS agreed with the retraction. AB agreed with the retraction based on the anomalies in Fig 1B, and apologises for not having noticed the anomalies earlier. PJS and AB stand by the conclusions of the article. Reference 1.Fulcoli FG, Huynh T, Scambler PJ, Baldini A (2009) Tbx1 Regulates the BMP-Smad1 Pathway in a Transcription Independent Manner. PLoS ONE 4(6): e6049. https: doi.org 10.1371 journal.pone.0006049 , 
 #3  Discrepancies have been detected in the background of both lanes presented in Fig 1B, particularly around regions marked as 70kDa and 20kDa.  https: imgur.com 0pbiqo2 ,