title: Wnt-3A/beta-catenin signaling induces transcription from the LEF-1 promoter.
abstract: Members of the Wnt family of secreted molecules have been established as key factors in determining cell fate and morphogenic signaling. It has long been recognized that Wnt induces morphogenic signaling through the Tcf/LEF-1 cascade by regulating free intracellular levels of beta-catenin, a co-factor for Tcf/LEF-1 transcription factors. In the present study, we have demonstrated that Wnt-3A can also directly induce transcription from the LEF-1 promoter. This induction was dependent on glycogen synthase kinase 3beta inactivation, a rise in free intracellular beta-catenin, and a short 110-bp Wnt-responsive element (WRE) in the LEF-1 promoter. Linear and internal deletion of this WRE led to a dramatic increase in constitutive LEF-1 promoter activity and loss of Wnt-3A responsiveness. In isolation, the 110-bp WRE conferred context-independent Wnt-3A or beta-catenin(S37A) responsiveness to a heterologous SV40 promoter. Studies expressing dominant active and negative forms of LEF-1, beta-catenin, GSK-3beta, and beta-catenin/LEF-1 fusions suggest that Wnt-3A activates the LEF-1 promoter through a beta-catenin-dependent and LEF-1-independent process. Wnt-3A expression also induced multiple changes in the binding of factors to the WRE and suggests that regulatory mechanisms may involve modulation of a multiprotein complex. In summary, these results provide evidence for transcriptional regulation of the LEF-1 promoter by Wnt and enhance the mechanistic understanding of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in the regulation of LEF-1-dependent developmental processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filali
authors.forename: Ningli
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Duane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leontiev
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Engelhardt
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015723:Gene Library; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D060508:Wnt3 Protein; D060509:Wnt3A Protein; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497573:LEF1 protein, human; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C555510:WNT3A protein, human; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D060508:Wnt3 Protein; D060509:Wnt3A Protein; D051176:beta Catenin; D008156:Luciferases