Beta-catenin relieves I-mfa-mediated suppression of LEF-1 in mammalian cells

J Cell Sci. 2006 Dec 1;119(Pt 23):4850-6. doi: 10.1242/jcs.03257. Epub 2006 Nov 7.

Abstract

We have previously shown that beta-catenin interacts with a transcription suppressor I-mfa and, through this interaction, canonical Wnt signaling could relieve I-mfa-mediated suppression of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs). In this study, we found that, based on this interaction, I-mfa-mediated suppression of the Wnt transcription factor T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancing factor-1 (TCF/LEF-1) can also be relieved. Our work showed that knocking down endogenous I-mfa expression mimics canonical Wnt treatment by inducing myogenesis and increasing Wnt reporter gene activity, endogenous Wnt target gene expression and expression of MRFs in P19 cells. More importantly, these I-mfa small interfering RNA (siRNA)-induced effects could be blocked by a dominant-negative mutant of LEF-1, confirming the involvement of the TCF/LEF-1 pathway. In addition, we found that beta-catenin could compete with I-mfa for binding to LEF-1 and relieve the inhibitory effects of I-mfa in overexpression systems. Furthermore, canonical Wnt was able to reduce the levels of endogenous I-mfa associated with LEF-1, while increasing that of I-mfa associated with beta-catenin. All of the evidence supports a conclusion that I-mfa can suppress myogenesis by inhibiting TCF/LEF-1 and that canonical Wnt signaling may relieve the suppression through elevating beta-catenin levels, which in turn relieve I-mfa-mediated suppression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Muscle Development / drug effects
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Myogenic Regulatory Factors / metabolism*
  • Myogenic Regulatory Factors / physiology
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Transfection
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism
  • Wnt3 Protein
  • beta Catenin / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / physiology*

Substances

  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1
  • Mutant Proteins
  • Myogenic Regulatory Factors
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Wnt3 Protein
  • beta Catenin
  • MDFI protein, human