Inhibition of Wnt signaling pathway by a novel axin-binding protein

J Biol Chem. 2000 Nov 24;275(47):37030-7. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M005984200.

Abstract

Axin forms a complex with adenomatous polyposis coli gene product, glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta), beta-catenin, Dvl, and protein phosphatase 2A and functions as a scaffold protein in the Wnt signaling pathway. In the Axin complex, GSK-3beta efficiently phosphorylates beta-catenin, which is then ubiquitinated and degraded by proteasome. We isolated a novel protein that binds to Axin and named it Axam (for Axin associating molecule). Axam formed a complex with Axin in intact cells and bound directly to Axin. Axam inhibited the complex formation of Dvl with Axin and the activity of Dvl to suppress GSK-3beta-dependent phosphorylation of Axin. Furthermore, Axam induced the degradation of beta-catenin in SW480 cells and inhibited Wnt-dependent axis duplication in Xenopus embryos. These results suggest that Axam regulates the Wnt signaling pathway negatively by inhibiting the binding of Dvl to Axin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Axin Protein
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinases
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Conformation
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Repressor Proteins*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Trans-Activators*
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Xenopus
  • Xenopus Proteins
  • Zebrafish Proteins*
  • beta Catenin

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Axin Protein
  • CTNNB1 protein, Xenopus
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Senp2 protein, rat
  • Trans-Activators
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Xenopus Proteins
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • axin1 protein, Xenopus
  • beta Catenin
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinases
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF260129