Loss of Apc in vivo immediately perturbs Wnt signaling, differentiation, and migration

OJ Sansom, KR Reed, AJ Hayes, H Ireland… - Genes & …, 2004 - genesdev.cshlp.org
OJ Sansom, KR Reed, AJ Hayes, H Ireland, H Brinkmann, IP Newton, E Batlle
Genes & development, 2004genesdev.cshlp.org
Although Apc is well characterized as a tumor-suppressor gene in the intestine, the precise
mechanism of this suppression remains to be defined. Using a novel inducible Ahcre
transgenic line in conjunction with a loxP-flanked Apc allele we, show that loss of Apc
acutely activates Wnt signaling through the nuclear accumulation of β-catenin.
Coincidentally, it perturbs differentiation, migration, proliferation, and apoptosis, such that
Apc-deficient cells maintain a “crypt progenitor-like” phenotype. Critically, for the first time we …
Although Apc is well characterized as a tumor-suppressor gene in the intestine, the precise mechanism of this suppression remains to be defined. Using a novel inducible Ahcre transgenic line in conjunction with a loxP-flanked Apc allele we, show that loss of Apc acutely activates Wnt signaling through the nuclear accumulation of β-catenin. Coincidentally, it perturbs differentiation, migration, proliferation, and apoptosis, such that Apc-deficient cells maintain a “crypt progenitor-like” phenotype. Critically, for the first time we confirm a series of Wnt target molecules in an in vivo setting and also identify a series of new candidate targets within the same setting.
genesdev.cshlp.org