Mothers against decapentaplegic is a protein from the SMAD family that was discovered in ''

Drosophila ''Drosophila'' () is a genus of flies, belonging to the family Drosophilidae, whose members are often called "small fruit flies" or (less frequently) pomace flies, vinegar flies, or wine flies, a reference to the characteristic of many speci ...

''. During ''Drosophila'' research, it was found that a mutation in the gene in the mother repressed the gene

decapentaplegic Decapentaplegic (Dpp) is a key morphogen involved in the development of the fruit fly ''Drosophila melanogaster'' and is the first validated secreted morphogen. It is known to be necessary for the correct patterning and development of the early ' ...

in the embryo. The phrase "Mothers against" was added as a humorous take-off on organizations opposing various issues e.g.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a non-profit organization in the United States, Canada and Brazil that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and strive for stricter impaired drivi ...

(MADD); and based on a tradition of such unusual naming within the gene research community. Several human homologues are known: *

Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 1 Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 1 also known as SMAD family member 1 or SMAD1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SMAD1'' gene. Nomenclature SMAD1 belongs to the SMAD, a family of proteins similar to the gene products of the ...

Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2 Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2 also known as SMAD family member 2 or SMAD2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SMAD2'' gene. MAD homolog 2 belongs to the SMAD, a family of proteins similar to the gene products of the ''Dros ...

Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 also known as SMAD family member 3 or SMAD3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SMAD3 gene. SMAD3 is a member of the SMAD family of proteins. It acts as a mediator of the signals initiated by t ...

Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 SMAD4, also called SMAD family member 4, Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4, or DPC4 (Deleted in Pancreatic Cancer-4) is a highly conserved protein present in all metazoans. It belongs to the SMAD family of transcription factor proteins, ...

Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 5 Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 5 also known as SMAD5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SMAD5'' gene. SMAD5, as its name describes, is a homolog of the Drosophila gene: " Mothers against decapentaplegic", based on a traditi ...

Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 6 SMAD family member 6, also known as SMAD6, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SMAD6'' gene. SMAD6 is a protein that, as its name describes, is a homolog of the Drosophila gene "mothers against decapentaplegic". It belongs to the SMA ...

Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 or SMAD7 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SMAD7'' gene. SMAD7 is a protein that, as its name describes, is a homolog of the Drosophila gene: "Mothers against decapentaplegic". It belongs to ...

Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 9 Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 9 also known as SMAD9, SMAD8, and MADH6 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SMAD9'' gene. SMAD9, as its name describes, is a homolog of the Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila gene: "Mothers ag ...

References

{{reflist Proteins SMAD (protein)