Functional interaction of beta-catenin with the transcription factor LEF-1.
The cytoplasmic proteins beta-catenin of vertebrates and armadillo of Drosophila have two functions: they link the cadherin cell-adhesion molecules to the cytoskeleton, and they participate in the wnt/wingless signal pathway. Here we show, in a yeast two-hybrid screen, that the architectural transcription factor LEF-1 (for lymphoid enhancer-binding factor) interacts with beta-catenin. In mammalian cells, coexpressed LEF-1 and beta-catenin form a complex that is localized to the nucleus and can be detected by immunoprecipitation. Moreover, LEF-1 and beta-catenin form a ternary complex with DNA that splays an altered DNA bend. Microinjection of LEF-1 into XenoPus embryos induces axis duplication, which is augmented by interaction with beta-catenin. Thus beta-catenin regulates gene expression by direct interaction with transcription factors such as LEF-1, providing a molecular mechanism for the transmission of signals, from cell-adhesion components or wnt protein to the nucleus.
Behrens
J
J
Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
von Kries
J P
JP
Kühl
M
M
Bruhn
L
L
Wedlich
D
D
Grosschedl
R
R
Birchmeier
W
W
D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila; D004926:Escherichia coli; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011485:Protein Binding; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014981:Xenopus; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin
C495266:CTNNB1 protein, Xenopus; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; D004247:DNA