Wnt-dependent regulation of the E-cadherin repressor snail

J Biol Chem. 2005 Mar 25;280(12):11740-8. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M413878200. Epub 2005 Jan 11.

Abstract

Down-regulation of E-cadherin marks the initiation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a process exploited by invasive cancer cells. The zinc finger transcription factor, Snail, functions as a potent repressor of E-cadherin expression that can, acting alone or in concert with the Wnt/beta-catenin/T cell factor axis, induce an epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Although mechanisms that coordinate signaling events initiated by Snail and Wnt remain undefined, we demonstrate that Snail displays beta-catenin-like canonical motifs that support its GSK3beta-dependent phosphorylation, beta-TrCP-directed ubiquitination, and proteasomal degradation. Accordingly, Wnt signaling inhibits Snail phosphorylation and consequently increases Snail protein levels and activity while driving an in vivo epithelial-mesenchymal transition that is suppressed following Snail knockdown. These findings define a potential mechanism whereby Wnt signaling stabilizes Snail and beta-catenin proteins in tandem fashion so as to cooperatively engage transcriptional programs that control an epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cadherins / genetics*
  • Cadherins / physiology
  • Chickens
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Epithelium / pathology
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / physiology
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology*
  • Mesoderm / pathology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Repressor Proteins / physiology*
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta-Transducin Repeat-Containing Proteins / physiology

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta-Transducin Repeat-Containing Proteins
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3