The Wnt/Wg signal transducer beta-catenin controls fibronectin expression.

ABSTRACT: beta-Catenin stabilizes the cadherin cell adhesion complex but, as a component of the Wnt/Wg signaling pathway, also controls gene expression by forming a heterodimer with a transcription factor of the LEF-TCF family. We demonstrate that the substrate adhesion molecule fibronectin is a direct target of Wnt/Wg signaling. Nuclear depletion of beta-catenin following cadherin transfection in Xenopus fibroblasts resulted in downregulation of fibronectin expression which was restored by activating the Wnt/Wg signaling cascade via LiCl treatment or transfection of either Xwnt-8 or beta-catenin. We isolated the Xenopus fibronectin gene (FN) promoter and found four putative LEF-TCF binding sites. By comparing the activities of different fibronectin gene reporter constructs in fibroblasts and cadher

SUBMITTER: Gradl D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC84410 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature