The Activin type I receptors transduce signals for a variety of members of the Transforming growth factor beta superfamily of ligands.
They are involved in a host of physiological processes including, growth, cell differentiation, homeostasis, osteogenesis, apoptosis and many other functions.
Each bind to a specific type II receptor-ligand complex.
Despite the large amount of processes that these ligands regulate, they all operate through essentially the same pathway: A ligand binds to a Type two receptor, which recruits and trans-phosphorylate a type I receptor.
The RSMAD then translocates to the nucleus where it functions as a transcription factor.