Another job for β-catenin

In cancer cells, β-catenin localizes to the nucleus where, together with LEF/TCF factors, it induces hyperactivation of numerous genes involved in carcinogenesis. Previously, researchers thought that most of the β-catenin/TCF target genes were active early in disease progression, but the transcription complex appears to work late in the process as well. Gavert et al. (on page 633) find that β-catenin/TCF induces expression of L1, a transmembrane adhesion protein normally expressed in migrating neurons, in invading colon cancer cells.

Colon cancer cells grown at low but not high densities express high levels of L1. Because 90% of colon cancer cells have aberrant β-catenin signaling, the team tested the response of L1 promoter constructs to β-catenin siRNA and dominant-negative TCF proteins and found that the β-catenin/TCF complex activates the L1 gene. Furthermore, L1 expression increased cell motility...