Abstract
β-catenin is a widely expressed 90-kDa protein with dual functions in cell adhesion and Wnt signalling. At the membrane, β-catenin forms complexes with E-cadherin to generate cell adhesion complexes responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of many epithelial tissues. On the other hand, accumulation of β-catenin in the nucleus in response to Wnt signalling facilitates complex formation with Tcf transcription factors, leading to activation of a genetic program influencing a range of cellular processes including cell growth, cell movement, and cell fate. Chronic activation of the Wnt signalling pathway as a result of mutations in key pathway components, including β-catenin itself, is a major cause of cancer. The associated increase in nuclear β-catenin protein is therefore considered to be a hallmark of Wnt-driven cancers and an invaluable tool to detect active Wnt signalling.
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Barker, N., Born, M.v.d. (2008). Detection of β-Catenin Localization by Immunohistochemistry. In: Vincan, E. (eds) Wnt Signaling. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 468. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-249-6_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-249-6_7
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-912-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-249-6
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