Subcellular localization of mutated β-catenins with different incidences of -peptide bonds at the Xaa246-P247 site in HepG2 cells.

Mutations may ultimately change the local conformation of proteins; however, little attention has been paid to alterations in protein function caused by the incidence of -peptide bonds (ICPB) in mammalian cells. In this study, a statistical approach, coimmunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence staining have been used to confirm that S246→Y and S246→W missense mutations, which help increase the ICPB in Xaa246-P247 (Xaa is any amino acid) in human β-catenin, can reduce the interactions between β-catenin and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and between β-catenin and Ca2-dependent cell adhesion molecule family in epithelial tissue (E-cadherin), eventually leading to increased nuclear migration of β-catenin in the HepG2 cell line (an immortalized cell line consisting of human liver carcinoma cells). Conversely, S246→L and S246→M missense mutations, which reduce the ICPB in Xaa246-P247 in human β-catenin, can enhance interactions between β-catenin and APC and between β-catenin and E-cadherin, leading to decreased nuclear migration of β-catenin. These results not only indicate that a change in the ICPB may be an important cause of functional protein changes but also provide a new basis for the study of genetic disease prediction, gene diagnosis, individualized treatment, and protein modification at the gene level for clinicians and other professionals.-Yu, S., Zhang, Y., Wu, Y., Yang, H., Chen, Y., Yang, Y., Zhang, Z. Subcellular localization of mutated β-catenins with different incidences of -peptide bonds at the Xaa246-P247 site in HepG2 cells.