FOCAL POINT Arthit Chairoungdua (left), Michael Caplan (right), and colleagues reveal a new mechanism by which cells downregulate β-catenin protein levels and activity of the Wnt signaling pathway. The tetraspanin proteins CD82 and CD9 promote the incorporation of β-catenin into exosomes—small vesicles that cells release into their environment. Electron microscopy of purified cell culture supernatants reveals that cells overexpressing CD9 (middle) or CD82 (right) produce more exosomes than control cells (left). Exosomal release of β-catenin and inhibition of Wnt signaling may explain why CD82 and CD9 suppress tumor metastasis.

FOCAL POINT Arthit Chairoungdua (left), Michael Caplan (right), and colleagues reveal a new mechanism by which cells downregulate β-catenin protein levels and activity of the Wnt signaling pathway. The tetraspanin proteins CD82 and CD9 promote the incorporation of β-catenin into exosomes—small vesicles that cells release into their environment. Electron microscopy of purified cell culture supernatants reveals that cells overexpressing CD9 (middle) or CD82 (right) produce more exosomes than control cells (left). Exosomal release of β-catenin and inhibition of Wnt signaling may explain why CD82 and CD9 suppress tumor metastasis.

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