The many faces and functions of ?-catenin.

ABSTRACT: ?-Catenin (Armadillo in Drosophila) is a multitasking and evolutionary conserved molecule that in metazoans exerts a crucial role in a multitude of developmental and homeostatic processes. More specifically, ?-catenin is an integral structural component of cadherin-based adherens junctions, and the key nuclear effector of canonical Wnt signalling in the nucleus. Imbalance in the structural and signalling properties of ?-catenin often results in disease and deregulated growth connected to cancer and metastasis. Intense research into the life of ?-catenin has revealed a complex picture. Here, we try to capture the state of the art: we try to summarize and make some sense of the processes that regulate ?-catenin, as well as the plethora of ?-catenin binding partners. One focus will be the interaction of ?-catenin with different transcription factors and the potential implications of these interactions for direct cross-talk between ?-catenin and non-Wnt signalling pathways.

SUBMITTER: Valenta T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3380220 | biostudies-other | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other