The transcriptional factor Tcf-4 contains different binding sites for beta-catenin and plakoglobin

Threonine 393 of beta-catenin regulates interaction with Axin

CK2 is a regulatory kinase implicated in embryonic development and in cancer. Among the CK2 substrates is beta-catenin, a protein with dual function in Wnt signaling and cell adhesion. Previously, we reported that CK2 activity is required for beta-catenin stability and we identified threonine (T) 393 as a major CK2 phosphorylation site in beta-catenin. However, it is not known whether phosphorylation at T393 increases beta-catenin stability and if so, what is the mechanism. In this study we investigate the molecular mechanism of beta-catenin stabilization through phosphorylation at T393. We found that pseudophosphorylation of beta-catenin at T393 resulted in a stable activated form of beta-catenin with decreased affinity for Axin in vitro. This phosphomimetic mutant also displayed decreased regulation by Axin in vivo in a bioassay in Xenopus laevis embryos. In contrast, the binding of T393 pseudophosphorylated beta-catenin to E-cadherin was unaffected. Further analysis showed that pseudophosphorylation at T393 did not prevent beta-catenin phosphorylation by GSK3beta. Interestingly, we found that in the presence of pseudophophorylated beta-catenin and another activated form of beta-catenin, the recruitment of GSK3beta to Axin is enhanced. These findings indicate that phosphorylation of T393 by CK2 may affect the stability of beta-catenin through decreased binding to Axin. In addition, the increased recruitment of GSK3beta to the destruction complex in the presence of activated beta-catenin mutants could be a feedback mechanism to suppress overactive Wnt signaling.

Wnt/Fz signaling and the cytoskeleton: potential roles in tumorigenesis

Wnt/beta-catenin regulates cellular functions related to tumor initiation and progression, cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and adhesion. Beta-catenin-independent Wnt pathways have been proposed to regulate cell polarity and migration, including metastasis. In this review, we discuss the possible roles of both beta-catenin-dependent and -independent signaling pathways in tumor progression, with an emphasis on their regulation of Rho-family GTPases, cytoskeletal remodeling, and relationships with cell-cell adhesion and cilia/ciliogenesis.

Protein kinase CK2 in health and disease: CK2 and its role in Wnt and NF-kappaB signaling: linking development and cancer

CK2 is a highly conserved tetrameric serine/ threonine kinase present in all eukaryotic organisms. It is constitutively active, and appears to be regulated by level of expression and activity, and subcellular localization. In turn, it has been postulated to control the function of many proteins through changes in phosphorylation that affect protein stability, protein-protein interactions, and subcellular localization. Through these mechanisms, CK2 regulates many fundamental cellular properties. An enzyme that carries out such a master regulatory function is likely to be important in organismic development and in cancer. We have shown that overexpression of CK2 catalytic subunits is capable of promoting tumorigenesis, and that loss of CK2 catalytic subunits in development can be lethal. Through studies in cells, mice, and frogs, we and others have identified the Wnt and NF-kappaB pathways as two key signal transduction pathways that are regulated by CK2 activity, in embryonic development and in cancer. These results suggest that inhibiting CK2 could be useful in treating cancer, but dangerous to developing organisms.

Genetic fate mapping identifies second heart field progenitor cells as a source of adipocytes in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

The phenotypic hallmark of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a genetic disease of desmosomal proteins, is fibroadipocytic replacement of the right ventricle. Cellular origin of excess adipocytes, the responsible mechanism(s) and the basis for predominant involvement of the right ventricle are unknown. We generated 3 sets of lineage tracer mice regulated by cardiac lineage promoters alpha-myosin heavy chain (alphaMyHC), Nkx2.5, or Mef2C. We conditionally expressed the reporter enhanced yellow fluorescent protein while concomitantly deleting the desmosomal protein desmoplakin in cardiac myocyte lineages using the Cre-LoxP technique. Lineage tracer mice showed excess fibroadiposis and increased numbers of adipocytes in the hearts. Few adipocytes in the hearts of alphaMyHC-regulated lineage tracer mice, but the majority of adipocytes in the hearts of Nkx2.5- and Mef2C-regulated lineage tracer mice, expressed enhanced yellow fluorescent protein. In addition, rare cells coexpressed adipogenic transcription factors and the second heart field markers Isl1 and Mef2C in the lineage tracer mouse hearts and in human myocardium from patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. To delineate the responsible mechanism, we generated transgenic mice expressing desmosomal protein plakoglobin in myocyte lineages. Transgene plakoglobin translocated to nucleus, detected by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence staining and coimmunoprecipitated with Tcf7l2, a canonical Wnt signaling transcription factor. Expression levels of canonical Wnt/Tcf7l2 targets bone morphogenetic protein 7 and Wnt5b, which promote adipogenesis, were increased and expression level of connective tissue growth factor, an inhibitor of adipogenesis, was decreased. We conclude adipocytes in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy originate from the second heart field cardiac progenitors, which switch to an adipogenic fate because of suppressed canonical Wnt signaling by nuclear plakoglobin.

Gamma-secretase-dependent and -independent effects of presenilin1 on beta-catenin.Tcf-4 transcriptional activity

Presenilin1 (PS1) is a component of the gamma-secretase complex mutated in cases of Familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). PS1 is synthesized as a 50 kDa peptide subsequently processed to two 29 and 20 kDa subunits that remain associated. Processing of PS1 is inhibited by several mutations detected in FAD patients. PS1 acts as negative modulator of beta-catenin.Tcf-4 transcriptional activity. In this article we show that in murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) the mechanisms of action of the processed and non-processed forms of PS1 on beta-catenin.Tcf-4 transcription are different. Whereas non-processed PS1 inhibits beta-catenin.Tcf-4 activity through a mechanism independent of gamma-secretase and associated with the interaction of this protein with plakoglobin and Tcf-4, the effect of processed PS1 is prevented by gamma-secretase inhibitors, and requires its interaction with E- or N-cadherin and the generation of cytosolic terminal fragments of these two cadherins, which in turn destabilize the beta-catenin transcriptional cofactor CBP. Accordingly, the two forms of PS1 interact differently with E-cadherin or beta-catenin and plakoglobin: whereas processed PS1 binds E-cadherin with high affinity and beta-catenin or plakoglobin weakly, the non-processed form behaves inversely. Moreover, contrarily to processed PS1, that decreases the levels of c-fos RNA, non-processed PS1 inhibits the expression c-myc, a known target of beta-catenin.Tcf-4, and does not block the activity of other transcriptional factors requiring CBP. These results indicate that prevention of PS1 processing in FAD affects the mechanism of repression of the transcriptional activity dependent on beta-catenin.

Plakoglobin has both structural and signalling roles in zebrafish development

Plakoglobin, or gamma-catenin, is found in both desmosomes and adherens junctions and participates in Wnt signalling. Mutations in the human gene are implicated in the congenital heart disorder, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), but the signalling effects of plakoglobin loss in ARVC have not been established. Here we report that knockdown of plakoglobin in zebrafish results in decreased heart size, reduced heartbeat, cardiac oedema, reflux of blood between heart chambers and a twisted tail. Wholemount in situ hybridisation shows reduced expression of the heart markers nkx2.5 at 24 hours post fertilisation (hpf), and cmlc2 and vmhc at 48 hpf, while there is lack of restriction of the valve markers notch1b and bmp4 at 48 hpf. Wnt target gene expression was examined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and found to be increased in morphant embryos indicating that plakoglobin is antagonistic to Wnt signalling. Co-expression of the Wnt inhibitor, Dkk1, rescues the cardiac phenotype of the plakoglobin morphant. beta-catenin protein expression is increased in morphant embryos as is its colocalisation with E-cadherin in adherens junctions. Endothelial cells at the atrioventricular boundary of morphant hearts have an aberrant morphology, indicating problems with valvulogenesis. Morphants also have decreased numbers of desmosomes and adherens junctions in the intercalated discs. These results establish the zebrafish as a model for ARVC caused by loss of plakoglobin function and indicate that there are signalling as well as structural consequences of this loss.

EBV latent membrane protein 1 effects on plakoglobin, cell growth, and migration

Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), the major oncoprotein of EBV, is likely responsible for many of the altered cellular growth properties in EBV-associated cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, the effects of LMP1 on cell growth and migration were studied in the context of the EBV-positive C666-1 NPC cell line. In the soft agar transformation and Transwell metastasis assays, LMP1 enhanced cell growth and migration through activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling. Inhibitors of PI3K, Akt, and NF-kappaB signaling dramatically reduced these enhanced properties. An IkappaBalpha super-repressor also blocked these effects. However, constitutive activation of Akt alone did not alter cell growth, suggesting that both PI3K/Akt and NF-kappaB activation are required by LMP1. These enhanced effects required the full-length LMP1 encompassing both the PI3K/Akt-activating COOH-terminal activation region (CTAR) 1 and the nonredundant NF-kappaB-activating regions CTAR1 and CTAR2. LMP2A, a latent protein that is also frequently expressed in NPC, similarly activates the PI3K/Akt pathway; however, its overexpression in C666-1 cells did not affect cell growth or migration. LMP1 also decreased expression of the junctional protein plakoglobin, which was shown to be partially responsible for enhanced migration induced by LMP1. This study reveals that in epithelial cells the transforming properties of LMP1 require activation of both PI3K/Akt and NF-kappaB and shows that the loss of plakoglobin expression by LMP1 is a significant factor in the enhanced migration.

Anchoring junctions as drug targets: role in contraceptive development

In multicellular organisms, cell-cell interactions are mediated in part by cell junctions, which underlie tissue architecture. Throughout spermatogenesis, for instance, preleptotene leptotene spermatocytes residing in the basal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium must traverse the blood-testis barrier to enter the adluminal compartment for continued development. At the same time, germ cells must also remain attached to Sertoli cells, and numerous studies have reported extensive restructuring at the Sertoli-Sertoli and Sertoli-germ cell interface during germ cell movement across the seminiferous epithelium. Furthermore, the proteins and signaling cascades that regulate adhesion between testicular cells have been largely delineated. These findings have unveiled a number of potential "druggable" targets that can be used to induce premature release of germ cells from the seminiferous epithelium, resulting in transient infertility. Herein, we discuss a novel approach with the aim of developing a nonhormonal male contraceptive for future human use, one that involves perturbing adhesion between Sertoli and germ cells in the testis.

Long-term, multilineage hematopoiesis occurs in the combined absence of β-catenin and γ-catenin

The canonical Wnt signaling pathway plays key roles in stem-cell maintenance, progenitor cell expansion, and lineage decisions. Transcriptional responses induced by Wnt depend on the association of either β-catenin or γ-catenin with lymphoid enhancer factor/T cell factor transcription factors. Here we show that hematopoiesis, including thymopoiesis, is normal in the combined absence of β- and γ-catenin. Double-deficient hematopoietic stem cells maintain long-term repopulation capacity and multilineage differentiation potential. Unexpectedly, 2 independent ex vivo reporter gene assays show that Wnt signal transmission is maintained in double-deficient hematopoietic stem cells, thymocytes, or peripheral T cells. In contrast, Wnt signaling is strongly reduced in thymocytes lacking TCF-1 or in nonhematopoietic cells devoid of β-catenin. These data provide the first evidence that hematopoietic cells can transduce canonical Wnt signals in the combined absence of β- and γ-catenin.

Structure and function of desmosomes

Desmosomes are prominent adhesion sites that are tightly associated with the cytoplasmic intermediate filament cytoskeleton providing mechanical stability in epithelia and also in several nonepithelial tissues such as cardiac muscle and meninges. They are unique in terms of ultrastructural appearance and molecular composition with cell type-specific variations. The dynamic assembly properties of desmosomes are important prerequisites for the acquisition and maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Disturbance of this equilibrium therefore not only compromises mechanical resilience but also affects many other tissue functions as becomes evident in various experimental scenarios and multiple diseases.

Stem cells and TCF proteins: a role for beta-catenin--independent functions

The Wnt signal transduction pathway has been shown to stimulate stem cell self renewal and has been shown to cause cancer in humans. One interesting aspect of Wnt signaling is that it utilizes downstream DNA-binding transcription factors, called Tcf proteins, which can activate transcription of target genes in the presence of a Wnt signal and repress the expression of target genes in the absence of a Wnt signal. Since Tcf proteins are present in Wnt-stimulated and unstimulated stem cells, understanding how Tcf proteins regulate target gene expression in each state offers the potential to understand how stem cells regulate their self-renewal, differentiation, and proliferation. In this article, we will review recent work elucidating the roles Tcf-protein interactions in the context of stem cells and cancer.

Modulation of the oncogenic potential of beta-catenin by the subcellular distribution of plakoglobin

Plakoglobin (Pg) and beta-catenin are homologous proteins that function in cell-cell adhesion and signaling. The cadherin-associated form of these proteins mediates adhesion, whereas the cytosolic/nuclear form has a signaling role. Despite their interactions with common cellular partners, beta-catenin has a well-documented oncogenic potential while Pg has a less characterized tumor suppressor activity. We showed previously that Pg overexpression in Pg-deficient SCC9 cells (SCC9-Pg-WT) induced Bcl-2 expression and inhibited apoptosis. To assess the exact role of Pg in Bcl-2 expression, we generated and characterized SCC9 transfectants expressing Pg with a restricted cytoplasmic (Pg-NES) or nuclear (Pg-NLS) distribution. We show that Bcl-2 was expressed regardless of Pg localization, although its level was substantially lower in SCC9-Pg-NLS cells. Bcl-2 expression coincided with increased nuclear beta-catenin levels (Pg-NES) or a decrease in the level of total and nuclear beta-catenin associated with N-cadherin and alpha-catenin (Pg-WT and -NLS) cells. Bcl-2 expression also was induced in SCC9 cells overexpressing beta-catenin. In contrast, SCC9 cells expressing mutant Pg proteins, unable to interact with N-cadherin and alpha-catenin, had noticeably lower Bcl-2 levels. Our data suggest that Bcl-2 expression is induced by beta-catenin and modulated by Pg. We show that the inhibition of beta-catenin-dependent TCF transactivation had no effect on Bcl-2 levels, suggesting that induction of Bcl-2 expression by beta-catenin and its modulation by Pg may involve factors other than, or in addition, to, TCF. These results provide a possible mechanism for the tumor suppressor activity of Pg via its role as a regulator of the oncogenic potential beta-catenin.

Wnt signaling and neural stem cells: caught in the Wnt web

Wnt proteins have now been identified as major physiological regulators of multiple aspects of stem cell biology, from self-renewal and pluripotency to precursor cell competence and terminal differentiation. Neural stem cells are the cellular building blocks of the developing nervous system and provide the basis for continued neurogenesis in the adult mammalian central nervous system. Here, we outline the most recent advances in the field about the critical factors and regulatory networks involved in Wnt signaling and discuss recent findings on how this increasingly intricate pathway contributes to the shaping of the developing and adult nervous system on the level of the neural stem cell.

Inositol Pentakisphosphate Mediates Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

Wnt3a stimulates lymphoid enhancer factor/T-cell factor protein-sensitive transcription, i.e. the canonical pathway, in mouse F9 embryonal tetratocarcinoma cells expressing rat Frizzled-1. We explored the potential roles for inositol polyphosphates as mediators of Wnt signaling in the canonical path-way. Wnt3a triggers G-protein-linked phosphatidylinositol signaling, transiently generating inositol polyphosphates, especially inositol pentakisphosphate (IP(5)) accumulation. Knock-down of Galpha(q) abolishes, whereas expression of the Q209L constitutively active mutant of Galpha(q) mimics, the effects of Wnt3a on IP(5) generation and downstream signaling. Phospholipase Cbeta-1 and Cbeta-3 mediate the G protein signal to the level of phosphatidylinositol signaling. Knock-down and inhibitor studies of the enzymes responsible for generating IP(5) reveal inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase and inositol polyphosphate multikinase as key mediators in the production of IP(5). Wnt3a stimulation of the canonical pathway requires accumulation of IP(5), which acts to inhibit the activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta, whereas stimulating casein kinase 2. Blockade of Wnt3a stimulation of IP(5) generation blocks beta-catenin accumulation, activation of lymphoid enhancer factor/T-cell factor protein-sensitive transcription, and promotion of primitive endoderm formation in response to Wnt3a. Phosphatidylinositol signaling mediates Wnt3a action in the canonical pathway, acting to generate inositol pentakisphosphate, a key second messenger of Wnt3a.

Parallels between global transcriptional programs of polarizing Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells in vitro and gene expression programs in normal colon and colon cancer

Posttranslational mechanisms are implicated in the development of epithelial cell polarity, but little is known about the patterns of gene expression and transcriptional regulation during this process. We characterized temporal patterns of gene expression during cell-cell adhesion-initiated polarization of cultured human Caco-2 cells, which develop structural and functional polarity resembling enterocytes in vivo. A distinctive switch in gene expression patterns occurred upon formation of cell-cell contacts. Comparison to gene expression patterns in normal human colon and colon tumors revealed that the pattern in proliferating, nonpolarized Caco-2 cells paralleled patterns seen in human colon cancer in vivo, including expression of genes involved in cell proliferation. The pattern switched in polarized Caco-2 cells to one more closely resembling that in normal colon tissue, indicating that regulation of transcription underlying Caco-2 cell polarization is similar to that during enterocyte differentiation in vivo. Surprisingly, the temporal program of gene expression in polarizing Caco-2 cells involved changes in signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt, Hh, BMP, FGF) in patterns similar to those during migration and differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells in vivo, despite the absence of morphogen gradients and interactions with stromal cells characteristic of enterocyte differentiation in situ. The full data set is available at http://microarray-pubs.stanford.edu/CACO2.

Desmosome structure, composition and function

Desmosomes are intercellular junctions of epithelia and cardiac muscle. They resist mechanical stress because they adopt a strongly adhesive state in which they are said to be hyper-adhesive and which distinguishes them from other intercellular junctions; desmosomes are specialised for strong adhesion and their failure can result in diseases of the skin and heart. They are also dynamic structures whose adhesiveness can switch between high and low affinity adhesive states during processes such as embryonic development and wound healing, the switching being signalled by protein kinase C. Desmosomes may also act as signalling centres, regulating the availability of signalling molecules and thereby participating in fundamental processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation and morphogenesis. Here we consider the structure, composition and function of desmosomes, and their role in embryonic development and disease.

The role of protein kinase CK2 in intestinal epithelial cell inflammatory signaling

BACKGROUND

The transcription factor NF-kappaB is believed to play a key pathophysiological role in chronic intestinal inflammation. Further characterization of its mechanism of regulation, predominantly through cell signaling pathways, may provide clues as to the means of its intervention. One such potential signaling candidate is the protein kinase CK2. Despite its known ability to influence NF-kappaB activation, it has received no attention in this particular setting.

AIM

To characterize the aspects of its activation in response to IL-1beta in the colonic cell lines Caco2 and HCT116.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A biochemical analysis of kinase activation was performed using phospho-specific antibodies as well as immune complex kinase assays; transcription factor activity was measured by transient transfection and luciferase-based NF-kappaB reporter assays; pro-inflammatory molecule expression was determined using RT-PCR.

RESULTS

In this report, we show an enhanced activation of CK2 bound to IKKgamma or the p65 subunit of the NF-kappaB in response to IL-1beta stimulation of intestinal epithelial cells. Using two established NF-kappaB reporters, we demonstrate that CK2 is involved in NF-kappaB regulation through the p65 serine 529 site. Using co-immunoprecipitation studies, we also show that p65 is bound to CK2 predominantly in the nucleus. From a functional perspective, two CK2 specific inhibitors were then shown to attenuate IL-8 reporter activation. Finally, the expression of a series of pro-inflammatory molecules including IL-8, GRO-alpha, MCP-1, TNFalpha and iNOS were variably affected in response to CK2 inhibition.

CONCLUSION

CK2 plays an active role in NF-kappaB signaling in intestinal epithelial cell lines and may represent a possible target for intervention.

Desmosomes: a role in cancer?

Much evidence now attests to the importance of desmosomes and their constituents in cancer. Alterations in the expression of desmosomal components could contribute to the progression of the disease by modifying intracellular signal transduction pathways and/or by causing reduced cell adhesion. The Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is a potential target because of the involvement of the cytoplasmic desmosomal protein plakoglobin. Loss of desmosomal adhesion is a prerequisite for the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, implicated in the conversion of early stage tumours to invasive cancers.

CK2 controls the recruitment of Wnt regulators to target genes in vivo

Nuclear beta-catenin is a transcriptional coactivator of LEF-1/TCF DNA-binding proteins in the Wnt/Wg signaling pathway. Casein Kinase 2 (CK2), a positive regulator of Wnt signaling, is present in beta-catenin complexes and activated in Wnt-signaling cells. We show here that CK2 enhances beta-catenin:LEF-1 transactivation in vivo and in vitro and that beta-catenin and CK2 cycle on and off the DNA in an alternating manner with the TLE1 corepressor at Wnt target genes. Interestingly, CK2 phosphorylates hLEF-1 directly and stimulates binding and transactivation of beta-catenin:LEF-1 complexes on chromatin templates in vitro. In vitro, CK2 phosphorylation of hLEF-1 strongly enhances its affinity for beta-catenin and reduces its affinity for TLE1. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) identified two CK2 phosphorylation sites (S42, S61) within the amino terminus of hLEF-1, and mutation of these sites reduced binding to beta-catenin in vitro and transactivation in vivo. Remarkably, treatment of cells with TBB, a pharmaceutical inhibitor of CK2, blocked the recruitment and cycling of beta-catenin and TLE1 at Wnt target genes in vivo. Taken together, these data indicate that CK2 is required for the assembly and cycling of Wnt-enhancer complexes in vivo.

Diversity of LEF/TCF action in development and disease

Lymphoid enhancer factor/T cell factor proteins (LEF/TCFs) mediate Wnt signals in the nucleus by recruiting beta-catenin and its co-activators to Wnt response elements (WREs) of target genes. This activity is important during development but its misregulation plays a role in disease such as cancer, where overactive Wnt signaling drives LEF/TCFs to transform cells. The size of the LEF/TCF family is small: approximately four members in vertebrates and one orthologous form in flies, worms and hydra. However, size belies complexity. The LEF/TCF family exhibits extensive patterns of alternative splicing, alternative promoter usage and activities of repression, as well as activation. Recent work from numerous laboratories has highlighted how this complexity has important biological consequences in development and disease.

Discriminating roles of desmosomal cadherins: Beyond desmosomal adhesion

The desmosomal cadherins, which include desmogleins and desmocollins, are Ca(2+)-dependent adhesion molecules that cooperate to make up the adhesive core of intercellular junctions known as desmosomes. The roles of desmosomal cadherins in epidermal integrity and as targets in human cutaneous disease have been well established. However, the molecular basis of these disorders is still poorly understood, due in part to a lack of fundamental knowledge about the organization of the adhesive interface and molecular machinery that dictates the proper presentation of desmogleins and desmocollins on the cell surface. Further, the diversity of the desmosomal cadherin family, and their individualized expression patterns within complex tissues, suggests that these adhesion molecules may have differentiation-specific functions that transcend their roles in intercellular adhesion. Here we will review the most recent data from our own group and others that are beginning to unveil the diverse properties and functions of this complex family of adhesion molecules.

Plakoglobin deficiency protects keratinocytes from apoptosis

The armadillo family protein plakoglobin (Pg) is a well-characterized component of anchoring junctions, where it functions to mediate cell-cell adhesion and maintain epithelial tissue integrity. Although its closest homolog beta-catenin acts in the Wnt signaling pathway to dictate cell fate and promote proliferation and survival, the role of Pg in these processes is not well understood. Here, we investigate how Pg affects the survival of mouse keratinocytes by challenging both Pg-null cells and their heterozygote counterparts with apoptotic stimuli. Our results indicate that Pg deletion protects keratinocytes from apoptosis, with null cells exhibiting delayed mitochondrial cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-3. Pg-null keratinocytes also exhibit increased messenger RNA and protein levels of the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-X(L) compared to heterozygote controls. Importantly, reintroduction of Pg into the null cells shifts their phenotype towards that of the Pg+/- keratinocytes, providing further evidence that Pg plays a direct role in regulating cell survival. Taken together, our results suggest that in addition to its adhesive role in epithelia, Pg may also function in contrast to the pro-survival tendencies of beta-catenin, to potentiate death in cells damaged by apoptotic stimuli, perhaps limiting the potential for the propagation of mutations and cellular transformation.

Suppression of canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling by nuclear plakoglobin recapitulates phenotype of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in desmosomal proteins. The phenotypic hallmark of ARVC is fibroadipocytic replacement of cardiac myocytes, which is a unique phenotype with a yet-to-be-defined molecular mechanism. We established atrial myocyte cell lines expressing siRNA against desmoplakin (DP), responsible for human ARVC. We show suppression of DP expression leads to nuclear localization of the desmosomal protein plakoglobin and a 2-fold reduction in canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling through Tcf/Lef1 transcription factors. The ensuing phenotype is increased expression of adipogenic and fibrogenic genes and accumulation of fat droplets. We further show that cardiac-restricted deletion of Dsp, encoding DP, impairs cardiac morphogenesis and leads to high embryonic lethality in the homozygous state. Heterozygous DP-deficient mice exhibited excess adipocytes and fibrosis in the myocardium, increased myocyte apoptosis, cardiac dysfunction, and ventricular arrhythmias, thus recapitulating the phenotype of human ARVC. We believe our results provide for a novel molecular mechanism for the pathogenesis of ARVC and establish cardiac-restricted DP-deficient mice as a model for human ARVC. These findings could provide for the opportunity to identify new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets in patients with ARVC.

The desmosome: cell science lessons from human diseases

Human skin diseases have revealed fundamental mechanisms by which cytoskeletal proteins contribute to tissue architecture and function. In particular, the analysis of epidermal blistering disorders and the role of keratin gene mutations in these diseases has led to significant increases in our understanding of intermediate filament biology. The major cell-surface attachment site for intermediate filament networks is the desmosome, an adhesive intercellular junction prominent in the epidermis and the heart. During the past decade, substantial progress has been made in understanding the molecular basis of a variety of epidermal autoimmune diseases, skin fragility syndromes, and disorders that involve a combination of heart and skin defects caused by perturbations in desmosome structure and function. These human diseases reveal key roles for desmosomes in maintaining tissue integrity, but also suggest functions for desmosomal components in signal transduction pathways and epidermal organization.

Casein Kinase 2 Is Activated and Essential for Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is essential to early development. Activation of Frizzled-1 by Wnts induces nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin and activation of Lef/Tcf-dependent gene expression. Casein kinase 2 has been shown to affect Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. How casein kinase 2 exerts an influence in Wnt signaling is not clear; casein kinase 2 has been reported to be constitutively active (i.e. not regulated). Herein we show to the contrary that casein kinase 2 activity is rapidly and transiently increased in response to Wnt3a stimulation and is essential for Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. Chemical inhibition of casein kinase 2 or suppression of its expression blocks Frizzled-1 activation of Lef/Tcf-sensitive gene expression. Treatment with pertussis toxin or knock down of Galpha(q) or Galpha(o) blocks Wnt stimulation of casein kinase 2 activation, as does suppression of the phosphoprotein Dishevelled, demonstrating that casein kinase 2 is downstream of heterotrimeric G proteins and Dishevelled. Expression of a constitutively active mutant of either Galpha(q) or Galpha(o) stimulates casein kinase 2 activation and Lef/Tcf-sensitive gene expression. Thus, casein kinase 2 is shown to be regulated by Wnt3a and essential to stimulation of the Frizzled-1/beta-catenin/Lef-Tcf pathway.

Presenilin-1 interacts with plakoglobin and enhances plakoglobin-Tcf-4 association. Implications for the regulation of beta-catenin/Tcf-4-dependent transcription

Alzheimer disease-linked Presenilin-1 (PS1) is a negative modulator of beta-catenin/Tcf-4 activity. However, the mechanism underlying this effect is not well understood. We show here that the effects of PS1 on the activity of this complex in epithelial cells are independent of its gamma-secretase activity and its interaction with beta-catenin. As presented in this report PS1 also binds plakoglobin with similar affinity as beta-catenin, although this interaction does not involve equivalent residues in the two catenins. Moreover, PS1 association with plakoglobin enhances the interaction of this molecule with Tcf-4 and prevents its binding to DNA. These effects were observed with the unprocessed form of PS1, which has higher affinity for plakoglobin and beta-catenin than processed PS1. These results provide a new explanation for the effects of PS1 on gene transcription mediated by beta-catenin in epithelial cells.

Cooperating pre-T-cell receptor and TCF-1-dependent signals ensure thymocyte survival

Intrathymic T-cell maturation critically depends on the selective expansion of thymocytes expressing a functionally rearranged T-cell receptor (TCR) beta chain. In addition, TCR-independent signals also contribute to normal T-cell development. It is unclear whether and how signals from the 2 types of pathways are integrated. Here, we show that T-cell factor-1 (TCF-1), a nuclear effector of the canonical wingless/int (wnt)/catenin signaling pathway, ensures the survival of proliferating, pre-TCR(+) thymocytes. The survival of pre-TCR(+) thymocytes requires the presence of the N-terminal catenin-binding domain in TCF-1. This domain can bind the transcriptional coactivator beta-catenin and may also bind gamma-catenin (plakoglobin). However, in the absence of gamma-catenin, T-cell development is normal, supporting a role for beta-catenin. Signaling competent beta-catenin is present prior to and thus arises independently from pre-TCR signaling and does not substantially increase on pre-TCR signaling. In contrast, pre-TCR signaling significantly induces TCF-1 expression. This coincides with the activation of a wnt/catenin/TCF reporter transgene in vivo. Collectively, these data suggest that efficient TCF-dependent transcription requires that pre-TCR signaling induces TCF-1 expression, whereas wnt signals may provide the coactivator such as beta-catenin. The 2 pathways thus have to cooperate to ensure thymocyte survival at the pre-TCR stage.

beta-catenin-dependent and -independent effects of DeltaN-plakoglobin on epidermal growth and differentiation

Both beta-catenin and plakoglobin can stimulate the expression of Lef/Tcf target genes in vitro. beta-Catenin is known to associate with Lef/Tcf factors and to participate directly in transactivation in vivo, whereas the role of plakoglobin in transcriptional regulation has been less studied. To analyze the functions of plakoglobin in vivo, we generated transgenic mice expressing in the epidermis N-terminally truncated plakoglobin (DeltaN122-PG) lacking the glycogen synthase kinase 3beta phosphorylation sites and therefore protected against degradation (transgenic line K5-DeltaN122-PG). The expression of DeltaN122-PG led to the formation of additional hair germs, hyperplastic hair follicles, and noninvasive hair follicle tumors, a phenotype reminiscent of that induced by expression of N-terminally truncated beta-catenin. However, if expressed in beta-catenin-null epidermis, DeltaN122-PG did not induce new hair follicle germs and follicular tumors. Thus, DeltaN122-PG cannot substitute for beta-catenin in its signaling functions in vivo and the phenotype observed in K5-DeltaN122-PG mouse skin must be due to the aberrant activation of beta-catenin signaling. On the other hand, the expression of DeltaN122-PG in beta-catenin-null skin significantly increased the survival rate of mutant mice, rescued differentiation, and limited excessive proliferation in the interfollicular epidermis, suggesting that plakoglobin may be involved in the intracellular signaling events essential for epidermal differentiation.

Protein kinase CK2 is required for dorsal axis formation in Xenopus embryos

Dorsal axis formation in Xenopus embryos is dependent upon asymmetrical localization of beta-catenin, a transducer of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Recent biochemical experiments have implicated protein kinase CK2 as a regulator of members of the Wnt pathway including beta-catenin. Here, we have examined the role of CK2 in dorsal axis formation. CK2 was present in the developing embryo at an appropriate time and place to participate in dorsal axis formation. Overexpression of mRNA encoding CK2 in ventral blastomeres was sufficient to induce a complete ectopic axis, mimicking Wnt signaling. A kinase-inactive mutant of CK2alpha was able to block ectopic axis formation induced by XWnt8 and beta-catenin and was capable of suppressing endogenous axis formation when overexpressed dorsally. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that CK2 is a bona fide member of the Wnt pathway and has a critical role in the establishment of the dorsal embryonic axis.

beta-Catenin and plakoglobin N- and C-tails determine ligand specificity

beta-Catenin and plakoglobin are related proteins involved in the regulation of adherens junctions and desmosomes. Moreover, by binding to Tcf-4, they can act as transcriptional modulators of genes involved in embryonic development and tumorigenesis. However, they associate to distinct Tcf-4 subdomains causing opposing effects on Tcf-4 binding to DNA: whereas beta-catenin does not affect this binding, plakoglobin prevents it. Both proteins are composed by two N- and C-tails and a central armadillo repeat domain. Interaction of Tcf-4, as well as other desmosomal or adherens junction components, with beta-catenin or plakoglobin takes place through the central armadillo domain. Here we show that, as reported for beta-catenin, plakoglobin terminal tails also interact with the central domain and regulate the ability of this region to bind to different cofactors. Moreover the specificity of the interaction of beta-catenin and plakoglobin with different subdomains in Tcf-4 or with other junctional components resides within the terminal tails and not in the armadillo domain. For instance, a chimeric protein in which the central domain of beta-catenin was replaced by that of plakoglobin presented the same specificity as wild-type beta-catenin. Therefore, the terminal tails of these proteins are responsible for discerning among binding of factors to the armadillo domain. These results contribute to the understanding of the molecular basis of the interactions established by these key regulators of epithelial tumorigenesis.

Phenotypic conversion of human mammary carcinoma cells by autocrine human growth hormone

We report here that autocrine production of human growth hormone (hGH) results in a phenotypic conversion of mammary carcinoma cells such that they exhibit the morphological and molecular characteristics of a mesenchymal cell, including expression of fibronectin and vimentin. Autocrine production of hGH resulted in reduced plakoglobin expression and relocalization of E-cadherin to the cytoplasm, leading to dissolution of cell-cell contacts and decreased cell height. These phenotypic changes were accompanied by an increase in cell motility, elevated activity of specific matrix metalloproteinases, and an acquired ability to invade a reconstituted basement membrane. Forced expression of plakoglobin significantly decreased mammary carcinoma cell migration and invasion stimulated by autocrine hGH. In vivo, autocrine hGH stimulated local invasion of mammary carcinoma cells concomitant with a prominent stromal reaction in comparison with well delineated and capsulated growth of mammary carcinoma cells lacking autocrine production of hGH. Thus, autocrine production of hGH by mammary carcinoma cells is sufficient for generation of an invasive phenotype. Therapeutic targeting of autocrine hGH may provide a mechanistic approach to prevent metastatic extension of human mammary carcinoma.

Endothelial cell-to-cell junctions: molecular organization and role in vascular homeostasis

Intercellular junctions mediate adhesion and communication between adjoining endothelial and epithelial cells. In the endothelium, junctional complexes comprise tight junctions, adherens junctions, and gap junctions. The expression and organization of these complexes depend on the type of vessels and the permeability requirements of perfused organs. Gap junctions are communication structures, which allow the passage of small molecular weight solutes between neighboring cells. Tight junctions serve the major functional purpose of providing a "barrier" and a "fence" within the membrane, by regulating paracellular permeability and maintaining cell polarity. Adherens junctions play an important role in contact inhibition of endothelial cell growth, paracellular permeability to circulating leukocytes and solutes. In addition, they are required for a correct organization of new vessels in angiogenesis. Extensive research in the past decade has identified several molecular components of the tight and adherens junctions, including integral membrane and intracellular proteins. These proteins interact both among themselves and with other molecules. Here, we review the individual molecules of junctions and their complex network of interactions. We also emphasize how the molecular architectures and interactions may represent a mechanistic basis for the function and regulation of junctions, focusing on junction assembly and permeability regulation. Finally, we analyze in vivo studies and highlight information that specifically relates to the role of junctions in vascular endothelial cells.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of plakoglobin causes contrary effects on its association with desmosomes and adherens junction components and modulates beta-catenin-mediated transcription

Plakoglobin is a protein closely related to beta-catenin that links desmosomal cadherins to intermediate filaments. Plakoglobin can also substitute for beta-catenin in adherens junctions, providing a connection between E-cadherin and alpha-catenin. Association of beta-catenin with E-cadherin and alpha-catenin is regulated by phosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues; modification of beta-catenin Tyr654 and Tyr142 decreases binding to E-cadherin and alpha-catenin, respectively. We show here that plakoglobin can also be phosphorylated on tyrosine residues, but unlike beta-catenin, this modification is not always associated with disrupted association with junctional components. Protein tyrosine kinases present distinct specificities on beta-catenin and plakoglobin, and phosphorylation of beta-catenin-equivalent Tyr residues of plakoglobin affects its interaction with components of desmosomes or adherens junctions differently. For instance, Src, which mainly phosphorylates Tyr86 in beta-catenin, modifies Tyr643 in plakoglobin, decreasing the interaction with E-cadherin and alpha-catenin and increasing the interaction with the alpha-catenin-equivalent protein in desmosomes, desmoplakin. The tyrosine kinase Fer, which modifies beta-catenin Tyr142, lessening its association with alpha-catenin, phosphorylates plakoglobin Tyr549 and exerts the contrary effect: it raises the binding of plakoglobin to alpha-catenin. These results suggest that tyrosine kinases like Src or Fer modulate desmosomes and adherens junctions differently. Our results also indicate that phosphorylation of Tyr549 and the increased binding of plakoglobin to components of adherens junctions can contribute to the upregulation of the transcriptional activity of the beta-catenin-Tcf-4 complex observed in many epithelial tumor cells.

APC 3×15 β-catenin-binding domain potentiates β-catenin association to TBP and upregulates TCF-4 transcriptional activity

Beta-catenin plays a dual role as a regulatory component of adherens junctions and as a transcriptional cofactor. The nuclear activity of this protein is controlled by adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) protein. We have analyzed the effect on beta-catenin-dependent transcription of a beta-catenin binding domain present in APC, consisting in three 15-amino acid repeats (APC 3 x 15). Association of this fragment prevents the interaction of beta-catenin with E-cadherin but not with TCF-4. Transfection of this fragment to several cell lines increases the transcriptional activity of the beta-catenin-TCF-4 complex and promotes the translocation of beta-catenin to the nucleus. Moreover, previous binding of APC 3 x 15 facilitates the association of beta-catenin to the TATA box-associated protein. Therefore, APC 3 x 15 domain plays a positive role in the control of transcriptional activity of beta-catenin-TCF-4 and can contribute to explain the role of the truncated forms of APC in colon tumorigenesis.

Plakoglobin is O-glycosylated close to the N-terminal destruction box

Plakoglobin provides a key linkage in protein chains that connect desmosomal and classical cadherins to the cytoskeleton. It is also present in a significant cytosolic pool that has the capacity to impact on canonical Wnt signaling by competing for interaction with partner proteins of beta-catenin. The closely related protein, beta-catenin, is rapidly targeted for proteasomal degradation by phosphorylation of a "destruction box" within the N-terminal domain. Inhibition of this process forms the basis of Wnt signaling. This destruction box is also found in the N-terminal domain of plakoglobin. We report that plakoglobin is modified by the addition of O-GlcNAc at a single site in close proximity to the destruction box. O-GlcNAc modification has been proposed to counteract phosphorylation, provide protection from proteasomal degradation, mediate signal transduction, silence transcription, and regulate multimolecular protein assembly. This finding has potential implications for understanding the roles of plakoglobin.

Keratinocyte adherens junctions initiate nuclear signaling by translocation of plakoglobin from the membrane to the nucleus

Because changes in cell-cell adhesion have profound effects on cellular behavior, we hypothesized a link between the adhesion and signaling functions of plakoglobin and beta-catenin. To investigate the existence of adherens-junction-mediated signaling, we used peroxovanadate to tyrosine phosphorylate plakoglobin and beta-catenin and to dissociate adherens junctions. The distribution of plakoglobin and beta-catenin was determined by immunofluorescence, western blot analysis, pulse-chase radiolabeling, and biochemical subcellular fractionation. Coimmunoprecipitation studies from nuclear fractions, gel-shift assays, and transient transfections with T cell factor (TCF)/lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF) optimized promoter reporter constructs were used to investigate the ability of plakoglobin and beta-catenin that had redistributed from the membrane to the nucleus to form functional transcriptional regulatory complexes with TCF/LEF family member transcription factors. Tyrosine phosphorylation of plakoglobin and beta-catenin resulted in their rapid translocation from the cell membrane to the nucleus. Nuclear translocation was associated with increased plakoglobin and decreased beta-catenin binding to nuclear TCF/LEF and downregulation of gene transcription from TCF/LEF reporter constructs. These results are consistent with a signaling pathway initiated by structural changes in the adherens junction in which adherens-junction-derived plakoglobin regulates nuclear transcription by antagonizing the binding of beta-catenin to TCF/LEF proteins.

Phosphorylation regulates the subcellular location and activity of the snail transcriptional repressor

The Snail gene product is a transcriptional repressor of E-cadherin expression and an inducer of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in several epithelial tumor cell lines. This report presents data indicating that Snail function is controlled by its intracellular location. The cytosolic distribution of Snail depended on export from the nucleus by a CRM1-dependent mechanism, and a nuclear export sequence (NES) was located in the regulatory domain of this protein. Export of Snail was controlled by phosphorylation of a Ser-rich sequence adjacent to this NES. Modification of this sequence released the restriction created by the zinc finger domain and allowed nuclear export of the protein. The phosphorylation and subcellular distribution of Snail are controlled by cell attachment to the extracellular matrix. Suspended cells presented higher levels of phosphorylated Snail and an augmented extranuclear localization with respect to cells attached to the plate. These findings show the existence in tumor cells of an effective and fine-tuning nontranscriptional mechanism of regulation of Snail activity dependent on the extracellular environment.

CK2 phosphorylation of the armadillo repeat region of beta-catenin potentiates Wnt signaling

Protein kinase CK2 is a ubiquitous serine/threonine kinase involved in many biological processes. It is overexpressed in many malignancies including rodent and human breast cancer, and is up-regulated in Wnt-transfected mammary epithelial cells, where it can be found in a complex with dishevelled and beta-catenin. beta-Catenin is a substrate for CK2 and inhibition of CK2 reduces levels of beta-catenin and dishevelled. Here we report that inhibition of CK2 using pharmacologic agents or expression of kinase inactive subunits reduces beta-catenin-dependent transcription and protein levels in a proteasome-dependent fashion. The major region of phosphorylation of beta-catenin by CK2 is the central armadillo repeat domain, where carrier proteins like axin and the adenomatous polyposis coli gene product APC interact with beta-catenin. The major CK2 phosphorylation site in this domain is Thr393, a solvent-accessible residue in a key hinge region of the molecule. Mutation of this single amino acid reduces beta-catenin phosphorylation, cotranscriptional activity, and stability. Thus, CK2 is a positive regulator of Wnt signaling through phosphorylation of beta-catenin at Thr393, leading to proteasome resistance and increased protein and co-transcriptional activity.

Wnt/beta-catenin/tcf signaling: a critical pathway in gastrointestinal tumorigenesis

Cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, including the liver, bile ducts, and pancreas, constitute the largest group of malignant tumors. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common neoplastic diseases in Western countries and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Inactivation of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor-suppressor gene during early adenoma formation is thought to be the first genetic event in the process of colorectal carcinogenesis followed by mutations in oncogenes like K-Ras and tumor-suppressor genes like p53. Identification of the interaction of APC with the proto-oncogene beta-catenin has linked colorectal carcinogenesis to the Wnt-signal transduction pathway. The main function of APC is thought to be the regulation of free beta-catenin in concert with the glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta) and Axin proteins. Loss of APC function, inactivation of Axin or activating beta-catenin mutations result in the cellular accumulation of beta-catenin. Upon translocation to the nucleus beta-catenin serves as an activator of T-cell factor (Tcf)-dependent transcription leading to an increased expression of several specific target genes including c-Myc, cyclin D1, MMP-7, and ITF-2. While APC mutations are almost exclusively found in colorectal cancers, deregulation of Wnt/beta-catenin/Tcf signaling is also common in other gastrointestinal and extra-gastrointestinal human cancers. In a fraction of hepatocellular carcinomas the Wnt pathway is deregulated by inactivation of Axin or stabilizing mutations of beta-catenin. The majority of hepatoblastomas and a group of gastric cancers also carry beta-catenin mutations. Clearly, this pathway harbors great potential for future applications in cancer diagnostics, staging, and therapy.

One-thousand-and-one substrates of protein kinase CK2?

CK2 (formerly termed "casein kinase 2") is a ubiquitous, highly pleiotropic and constitutively active Ser/Thr protein kinase whose implication in neoplasia, cell survival, and virus infection is supported by an increasing number of arguments. Here an updated inventory of 307 CK2 protein substrates is presented. More than one-third of these are implicated in gene expression and protein synthesis as being either transcriptional factors (60) or effectors of DNA/RNA structure (50) or translational elements. Also numerous are signaling proteins and proteins of viral origin or essential to virus life cycle. In comparison, only a minority of CK2 targets (a dozen or so) are classical metabolic enzymes. An analysis of 308 sites phosphorylated by CK2 highlights the paramount relevance of negatively charged side chains that are (by far) predominant over any other residues at positions n+3 (the most crucial one), n+1, and n+2. Based on this signature, it is predictable that proteins phosphorylated by CK2 are much more numerous than those identified to date, and it is possible that CK2 alone contributes to the generation of the eukaryotic phosphoproteome more so than any other individual protein kinase. The possibility that CK2 phosphosites play some global role, e.g., by destabilizing alpha helices, counteracting caspase cleavage, and generating adhesive motifs, will be discussed.

gamma-Catenin expression is reduced or absent in a subset of human lung cancers and re-expression inhibits transformed cell growth

Lung cancer is a heterogeneous disease categorized into multiple subtypes of cancers which likely arise from distinct patterns of genetic alterations and disruptions. Precedent exists for a role of beta-catenin, a downstream component of the Wnt signaling pathway that serves as a transcriptional co-activator with TCF/LEF, in several human cancers including colon carcinomas. In this study, we observed that beta-catenin was highly and uniformly expressed in a panel of NSCLC cell lines and primary lung tumors. By contrast, gamma-catenin was weakly expressed or absent in several NSCLC cell lines and immunohistochemical analysis of primary NSCLC tumors revealed negligible to weak gamma-catenin staining in approximately 30% of the specimens. Treatment of NSCLC cells expressing reduced gamma-catenin protein with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5aza2dc), a DNA methylation inhibitor, or trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, increased gamma-catenin protein content in NSCLC cells with low gamma-catenin expression. Significantly, the activity of a beta-catenin/TCF-dependent luciferase reporter was markedly elevated in the NSCLC cell lines that underexpressed gamma-catenin relative to those lines that highly expressed gamma-catenin. Moreover, transfection of these cells with a gamma-catenin expression plasmid reduced the elevated TCF activity by 85% and strongly inhibited cell growth on tissue culture plastic as well as anchorage-independent growth in soft agar. This study shows that gamma-catenin can function as an inhibitor of beta-catenin/TCF-dependent gene transcription and highlights gamma-catenin as a potentially novel tumor suppressor protein in a subset of human NSCLC cancers.

Nr-CAM is a target gene of the beta-catenin/LEF-1 pathway in melanoma and colon cancer and its expression enhances motility and confers tumorigenesis

beta-catenin and plakoglobin (gamma-catenin) are homologous molecules involved in cell adhesion, linking cadherin receptors to the cytoskeleton. beta-catenin is also a key component of the Wnt pathway by being a coactivator of LEF/TCF transcription factors. To identify novel target genes induced by beta-catenin and/or plakoglobin, DNA microarray analysis was carried out with RNA from cells overexpressing either protein. This analysis revealed that Nr-CAM is the gene most extensively induced by both catenins. Overexpression of either beta-catenin or plakoglobin induced Nr-CAM in a variety of cell types and the LEF/TCF binding sites in the Nr-CAM promoter were required for its activation by catenins. Retroviral transduction of Nr-CAM into NIH3T3 cells stimulated cell growth, enhanced motility, induced transformation, and produced rapidly growing tumors in nude mice. Nr-CAM and LEF-1 expression was elevated in human colon cancer tissue and cell lines and in human malignant melanoma cell lines but not in melanocytes or normal colon tissue. Dominant negative LEF-1 decreased Nr-CAM expression and antibodies to Nr-CAM inhibited the motility of B16 melanoma cells. The results indicate that induction of Nr-CAM transcription by beta-catenin or plakoglobin plays a role in melanoma and colon cancer tumorigenesis, probably by promoting cell growth and motility.

Intercellular adhesion, signalling and the cytoskeleton

Connections between the cytoskeleton and intercellular junctions profoundly influence cell shape and motility. It is becoming increasingly clear that in addition to structural functions, components of the adhesion apparatus also possess signalling capabilities. Recent studies suggest that their dual function may provide the means to integrate changes in morphology and gene expression during tissue and organ development.