title: Axin localizes to the centrosome and is involved in microtubule nucleation.
abstract: Axin is known to have an important role in the degradation of beta-catenin in the Wnt pathway. Here, we reveal a new function of Axin at the centrosome. Axin was localized to the centrosome in various cell lines and formed a complex with gamma-tubulin. Knockdown of Axin reduced the localization of gamma-tubulin and gamma-tubulin complex protein 2-components of the gamma-tubulin ring complex-to the centrosome and the centrosomal microtubule nucleation activity after treatment with nocodazole. These phenotypes could not be rescued by the reduction in the levels of beta-catenin. Although the expression of Axin rescued these phenotypes in Axin-knockdown cells, overexpression of Axin2, which is highly homologous to Axin, could not. Axin2 was also localized to the centrosome, but it did not form a complex with gamma-tubulin. These results suggest that Axin, but not Axin2, is involved in microtubule nucleation by forming a complex with gamma-tubulin at the centrosome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fumoto
authors.forename: Moe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kadono
authors.forename: Nanae
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060466:Axin Protein; D018385:Centrosome / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D021381:Protein Transport; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D060466:Axin Protein; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014404:Tubulin