Myoneurin regulates BMP signaling by competing with Ppm1a for Smad binding

A delicate balance of BMP activity is critical for tissue formation and organogenesis. However, the mechanical molecular details in ensuring the proper duration and intensity of BMP signaling have yet to be fully elucidated. Here, we identified a zebrafish mutant with a disrupted gene encoding for the BTB/POZ and zinc finger protein myoneurin (Mynn). mynn(−/−) mutants exhibited severe loss of pharyngeal cartilage elements, owing to poor proliferation, blocked differentiation, and low viability of cranial neural crest cells. Depletion of mynn in both zebrafish embryos and mammalian cells led to a reduction of the BMP signal activity. Mechanistically, Mynn interacts with Smad proteins in the nucleus, thereby disrupting the association between Smad protein and the phosphatase Ppm1a. Ultimately, this interaction prevents Smad dephosphorylation. More broadly, our findings may provide a new strategy to balance BMP signal activity via competitive binding of Mynn and Ppm1a to Smad proteins during pharyngeal cartilage formation.