Zinc finger FYVE domain-containing protein 9 or SARA (SMAD anchor for receptor activation) is a
protein that in humans is encoded by the ZFYVE9gene.[5] SARA contains a double zinc finger (
FYVE domain).
SARA is an anchoring protein involved in
TGF beta signaling. It binds to the MH2 domain of the
R-SMADsSMAD2 and
SMAD3 as well as the type I TGF beta receptors.[6] It facilitates the phosphorylation of the R-SMAD, which subsequently dissociates from SARA and the receptor and binds a coSMAD where they enter the nucleus as
transcription factors.