title: The many faces and functions of β-catenin.
abstract: β-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, β-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 β-catenin often results in disease and deregulated growth connected to cancer and metastasis. Intense research into the life of β-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 β-catenin, as well as the plethora of β-catenin binding partners. One focus will be the interaction of β-catenin with different transcription factors and the potential implications of these interactions for direct cross-talk between β-catenin and non-Wnt signalling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Valenta
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hausmann
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Basler
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051176:beta Catenin