TGF-beta Receptor 1 (TGFβR1) is a serine/threonine protein kinase encoded by the TGFbr1 gene on chromosome 9q22. It is a critical component of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway, which plays dual roles in both neuroprotection and neuroinflammation. TGF-β signaling is implicated in [Alzheimer's disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease), [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease), and ALS, with complex context-dependent effects on neuronal survival and glial activation.
Structure
Protein Architecture
Length: 503 amino acids
Molecular Weight: ~56 kDa
Domains:
Extracellular domain (1-190): Glycine-serine rich (GS) domain for ligand binding
[Wyss-Coray T, Mucke L, Inflammation in neurodegenerative disease (2002)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11854267/)
[Town T, et al, Blocking TGF-beta-Smad2/3 signaling impairs survival of pyramidal neurons and exacerbates neuroinflammation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (2008)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18599443/)
[Tesseur I, et al, Deficient TGF signaling causes reduction in neurogenesis and accumulation of amyloid plaques (2006)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16645045/)
[Wyss-Coray T, TGF-beta pathway as a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases (2016)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27297750/)
[Hutton SR, et al, TGF-beta SMAD3 signaling mediates neuronal viability and amyloid-beta toxicity (2011)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18834654/)
[McGeer PL, McGeer EG, Glial cell reactions in neurodegenerative diseases: Pathophysiology and therapeutic interventions (1998)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9849634/)
[Deppe M, et al, TGF-beta signaling in Parkinson's disease (2022)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32947590/)
[Endo F, et al, TGF-beta1 mediates inflammatory responses in ALS (2015)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26493376/)
[Matsuno Y, et al, TGF-beta type I receptor kinase inhibitor enhances dopaminergic neuron survival in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (2020)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32898674/)
[Bakhshandeh B, et al, TGF-beta receptor engineering: Molecular insights and therapeutic applications (2020)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107591)
[Luo K, Signaling and Regulation of the TGF-beta Family (2017)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28934628/)