Smad proteins, the mammalian homologs of the Drosophila mothers against dpp (Mad) have been implicated as downstream effectors of TGFb/BMP signaling. Smad1 (also designated Madr1 or JV4-1), Smad5 and mammalian Smad8 (also designated Smad9 or MadH6) are effectors of BMP2 and BMP4 function while Smad2 (also designated Madr2 or JV18-1) and Smad3 are involved in TGFb and activin-mediated growth modulation. Smad4 (also designated DPC4) has been shown to mediate all of the above activities through interaction with various Smad family members. Smad6 and Smad7 regulate the response to activin/TGFb signaling by interfering with TGFb-mediated phosphorylation of other Smad family members.