Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) proteins repress canonical Wnt signaling via its interaction with Dishevelled (Dvl) protein and participate in regulating neural progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation

J Biol Chem. 2011 Oct 28;286(43):37399-405. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.251165. Epub 2011 Aug 31.

Abstract

The Ca(2+) signaling pathway appears to regulate the processes of the early development through its antagonism of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. However, the underlying mechanism is still poorly understood. Here, we show that nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), a component of Ca(2+) signaling, interacts directly with Dishevelled (Dvl) in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. A dominant negative form of NFAT rescued the inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway triggered by the Ca(2+) signal. NFAT functioned downstream of β-catenin without interfering with its stability, but influencing the interaction of β-catenin with Dvl by its competitively binding to Dvl. Furthermore, we demonstrate that NFAT is a regulator in the proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells by modulating canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the neural tube of chick embryo. Our findings suggest that NFAT negatively regulates canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling by binding to Dvl, thereby participating in vertebrate neurogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology*
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Chick Embryo
  • Chickens
  • Dishevelled Proteins
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • NFATC Transcription Factors / genetics
  • NFATC Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Neural Tube / cytology
  • Neural Tube / embryology*
  • Neurogenesis / physiology
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Dishevelled Proteins
  • NFATC Transcription Factors
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • Calcium