{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,18]],"date-time":"2026-01-18T11:06:13Z","timestamp":1768734373258,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":66,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"14","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,21]],"date-time":"2025-07-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1753056000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Thammasat University Research Unit in Biotechnology and its application to aquatic animals","award":["T1\/2565"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["T1\/2565"]}]},{"name":"Thailand Science Research and Innovation Fundamental Fund, fiscal year 2024","award":["T1\/2565"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["T1\/2565"]}]},{"name":"Research Fund of Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University","award":["T1\/2565"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["T1\/2565"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Holothuria scabra has long been acknowledged in traditional medicine for its therapeutic properties. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-\u03b2) superfamily is crucial in regulating cellular processes, including differentiation, proliferation, and immune responses. This study marks the first exploration of the gene expression localization, sequence conservation, and functional roles of H. scabra TGF-\u03b2 proteins, specifically activin (HolscActivin), inhibin (HolscInhibin), and the TGF-\u03b2 receptor (HolscTGFBR), across various organs. In situ hybridization indicated that HolscActivin and HolscInhibin are expressed in the intestine, respiratory tree, ovary, testis, and inner body wall. This suggests their roles in nutrient absorption, gas exchange, reproduction, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Notably, HolscTGFBR demonstrated a similar tissue-specific expression pattern, except for its absence in the respiratory tree. Bioinformatics analysis reveals that HolscTGFBR shares significant sequence similarity with HomsaTGFBR, especially in regions essential for signal transduction and inhibition. Molecular docking results indicate that HolscActivin may promote receptor activation, while HolscInhibin functions as a natural antagonist, reflecting the signaling mechanisms of human TGF-\u03b2 proteins. Interestingly, cross-species ternary complex docking with human TGF-\u03b2 receptors further supports these findings, showing that HolscActivin moderately engages the receptors, whereas HolscInhibin exhibits strong binding, suggestive of competitive inhibition. These results indicate that H. scabra TGF-\u03b2 proteins retain the structural and functional features of vertebrate TGF-\u03b2 ligands, supporting their potential applications as natural modulators in therapeutic and functional food development.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26146998","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,21]],"date-time":"2025-07-21T11:44:05Z","timestamp":1753098245000},"page":"6998","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Characterization and Expression of TGF-\u03b2 Proteins and Receptor in Sea Cucumber (Holothuria scabra): Insights into Potential Applications via Molecular Docking Predictions"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"26","author":[{"given":"Siriporn","family":"Nonkhwao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Rangsit Campus, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Bangkok, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jarupa","family":"Charoenrit","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Rangsit Campus, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Bangkok, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chanachon","family":"Ratanamungklanon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Rangsit Campus, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Bangkok, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lanlalin","family":"Sojikul","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Rangsit Campus, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Bangkok, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Supawadee","family":"Duangprom","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Rangsit Campus, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Bangkok, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sineenart","family":"Songkoomkrong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Rangsit Campus, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Bangkok, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jirawat","family":"Saetan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Health and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-5252-9488","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nipawan","family":"Nuemket","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Rangsit Campus, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Bangkok, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-1995-3003","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Prateep","family":"Amonruttanapun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Rangsit Campus, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Bangkok, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Prasert","family":"Sobhon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10110, Bangkok, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Napamanee","family":"Kornthong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Rangsit Campus, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Bangkok, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1017\/S0025315409990518","article-title":"The Ecological Role of Holothuria scabra (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) within Subtropical Seagrass Beds","volume":"90","author":"Wolkenhauer","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. 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