Abstract
Wnt signalling results in transcriptional stimulation of genes controlling normal and malignant development. A key effector of the canonical Wnt pathway is β-catenin (also known as Drosophila melanogaster Armadillo (Arm)), thought to function as a nuclear co-activator of TCF transcription factors. This has been challenged by unexpected observations of membrane-bound Arm/β-catenin signalling activity. Plausible explanations allow these observations to be reconciled with the large body of evidence supporting a nuclear function of Arm/β-catenin.
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Acknowledgements
We thank M. Peifer, E. Wieschaus, R. Grosschedl, R. Moon, M. van de Wetering and M. Freeman for discussion, and D. McClay for the sea urchin image.
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Bienz, M., Clevers, H. Armadillo/β-catenin signals in the nucleus – proof beyond a reasonable doubt?. Nat Cell Biol 5, 179–182 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb0303-179
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb0303-179
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