title: Beta-catenin in the melanocyte lineage.
abstract: beta-Catenin is a multifunctional protein involved in cell-cell adhesion, intracellular signalling and gene transcription. It has been implicated in the development of various lineages, including neural crest derivatives. Melanocytes are derived from neural crest cells and beta-catenin is expressed throughout the development of this cell lineage. The multifunctional activity of beta-catenin is directly associated with its participation in multi protein-protein interactions. The cell-cell adhesion function of beta-catenin is mediated by the large cadherin cell adhesion molecule family, the intracellular signalling function by its interaction with GSK3beta, and the gene transcription activity by the four known LEF/TCF DNA binding-proteins. Here, we review the known beta-catenin interacting factors and targets involved in the development and transformation of melanocytes and in particular its role in the expression of the crucial gene of melanocyte development, Mitf.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Genetics of Melanocytes, CNRS-Institut Curie, Orsay Cedex, France. lionel.larue@curie.fr
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Larue
authors.forename: Mayuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumasaka
authors.forename: Colin R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Goding
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D019070:Cell Lineage; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D011485:Protein Binding; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497234:MITF protein, human; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051176:beta Catenin