| Gene Summary |
The protein encoded by this gene is part of a complex of proteins that constitute adherens junctions (AJs). AJs are necessary for the creation and maintenance of epithelial cell layers by regulating cell growth and adhesion between cells. The encoded protein also anchors the actin cytoskeleton and may be responsible for transmitting the contact inhibition signal that causes cells to stop dividing once the epithelial sheet is complete. Finally, this protein binds to the product of the APC gene, which is mutated in adenomatous polyposis of the colon. Mutations in this gene are a cause of colorectal cancer (CRC), pilomatrixoma (PTR), medulloblastoma (MDB), and ovarian cancer. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2016] |
| Function |
Beta-catenin, an adherens junction (AJ) protein, was originally identified as a component of cell-cell adhesion structures. AJs are necessary for the creation and maintenance of epithelial cell layers by regulating cell growth and adhesion between cells. Beta-catenin interacts with the cytoplasmic domain of E-cadherin and links E-cadherin to alpha-catenin, which in turn mediates anchorage of the E-cadherin complex to the cortical actin cytoskeleton. Studies show that Beta-catenin also binds to another cytoskeletal complex containing the adenomatous polyposis coli protein and microtubules, and interacts with several signaling pathways that include tyrosine kinases, phosphatases and Wnt/Wingless. The interplay between beta-catenin, cytoskeletal complexes and signaling pathways may regulate morphogenesis. Beta-catenin is expressed in several hair follicle cell types, basal and peripheral matrix cells, and cells of the outer and inner root sheats. A pathological role of beta-catenin has been identified in pilomatrixoma (PTR), medulloblastoma (MDB), colorectal cancer (CRC), ovarian cancer, and tumor development. In the nucleus, beta-catenin serves to co activate a family of Lef/Tcf transcription factors that stimulate transcription of target genes including those encoding cyclin D and c-myc that promote cell proliferation. The influence on cell proliferation is the molecular basis for the role of beta-catenin in tumorgenesis, specifically, solid tumors of the breast, colon, liver, lung, gastric, prostate, and skin. |