Two members of the Tcf family implicated in Wnt/β-catenin signaling during embryogenesis in the mouse

V Korinek, N Barker, K Willert, M Molenaar… - … and cellular biology, 1998 - Taylor & Francis
V Korinek, N Barker, K Willert, M Molenaar, J Roose, G Wagenaar, M Markman, W Lamers
Molecular and cellular biology, 1998Taylor & Francis
Tcf transcription factors interact with β-catenin and Armadillo to mediate Wnt/Wingless
signaling. We now report the characterization of genes encoding two murine members of the
Tcf family, mTcf-3 and mTcf-4. mTcf-3 mRNA is ubiquitously present in embryonic day 6.5
(E6. 5) mouse embryos but gradually disappears over the next 3 to 4 days. mTcf-4
expression occurs first at E10. 5 and is restricted to di-and mesencephalon and the intestinal
epithelium during embryogenesis. The mTcf-3 and mTcf-4 proteins bind a canonical Tcf …
Abstract
Tcf transcription factors interact with β-catenin and Armadillo to mediate Wnt/Wingless signaling. We now report the characterization of genes encoding two murine members of the Tcf family,mTcf-3 and mTcf-4. mTcf-3 mRNA is ubiquitously present in embryonic day 6.5 (E6.5) mouse embryos but gradually disappears over the next 3 to 4 days. mTcf-4 expression occurs first at E10.5 and is restricted to di- and mesencephalon and the intestinal epithelium during embryogenesis. The mTcf-3 and mTcf-4 proteins bind a canonical Tcf DNA motif and can complex with the transcriptional coactivator β-catenin. Overexpression of Wnt-1 in a mammary epithelial cell line leads to the formation of a nuclear complex between β-catenin and Tcf proteins and to Tcf reporter gene transcription. These data demonstrate a direct link between Wnt stimulation and β-catenin/Tcf transcriptional activation and imply a role formTcf-3 and -4 in early Wnt-driven developmental decisions in the mouse embryo.
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