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-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway in mammalian cells. We report here that bromodomain-containing protein 7 (BRD7) functions as a novel transcription coactivator for Smads in TGF-β signaling. BRD7 forms a TGF-β 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-β transcriptional, tumor suppressing and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) responses. Conversely, depletion of BRD7 inhibits TGF-β responses. Thus, our study provides compelling evidence for a new function of BRD7 in fine-tuning TGF-β physiological responses.