Müllerian inhibiting substance signaling uses a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-like pathway mediated by ALK2 and induces SMAD6 expression.

Signal reception of Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS) in the mesenchyme around the embryonic Müllerian duct in the male is essential for regression of the duct. Deficiency of MIS or of the MIS type II receptor, MISRII, results in abnormal reproductive development in the male due to the maintenance of the duct. MIS is a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) superfamily of secreted protein hormones that signal through receptor complexes of type I and type II serine/threonine kinase receptors. To investigate candidate MIS type I receptors, we examined reporter construct activation by MIS. The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-responsive Tlx2 and Xvent2 promoter-driven reporter constructs were stimulated by MIS but the TGFbeta/activin-induced p3TP-lux or CAGA-luc reporter constructs were not. The induction of Tlx2-luc was dependent upon the kinase activity of MISRII and was blocked by a dominant negative truncated ALK2 (tALK2) receptor but not by truncated forms of the other BMP type I receptors ALK1, ALK3, or ALK6. MIS induced activation of a Gal4DBD-Smad1 but not a Gal4DBD-Smad2 fusion protein. This activation could also be blocked by tALK2. The BMP-induced inhibitory Smad, Smad6, was up-regulated by MIS endogenously in Leydig cell-derived lines and is expressed in male but not female Müllerian duct mesenchyme. ALK6 has been shown to function as an MIS type I receptor. Investigation of the pattern of ALK2, MISRII, and ALK6 in the developing urogenital system demonstrated overlapping expression of ALK2 and MISRII in the mesenchyme surrounding the duct while ALK6 was observed only in the epithelium. Examination of ALK6 -/- male animals revealed no defect in duct regression. The reporter construct analysis, pattern of expression of the receptors, and analysis of ALK6-deficient animals suggest that ALK2 is the MIS type I receptor involved in Müllerian duct regression.