Willert K, Nusse R
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Developmental Biology, Backman Center, Stanford University Medical Center, California 94305, USA.
Curr Opin Genet Dev. 1998 Feb;8(1):95-102. doi: 10.1016/s0959-437x(98)80068-3.
Beta-catenin is a pivotal player in the signaling pathway initiated by Wnt proteins, mediators of several developmental processes. beta-catenin activity is controlled by a large number of binding partners that affect the stability and the localization of beta-catenin and is thereby able to participate in such varying processes as gene expression and cell adhesion. Activating mutations in beta-catenin and in components regulating its stability can contribute to the formation of certain tumors.
β-连环蛋白是由Wnt蛋白启动的信号通路中的关键因子，Wnt蛋白是多种发育过程的介质。β-连环蛋白的活性受大量结合伙伴的控制，这些结合伙伴影响β-连环蛋白的稳定性和定位，从而能够参与基因表达和细胞黏附等不同过程。β-连环蛋白及其调节稳定性的组分中的激活突变可导致某些肿瘤的形成。
