Developing Strategies to Block Beta-Catenin Action in Signaling and Cell Adhesion During Carcinogenesis

Abstract

To understand cancer, we must first understand normal cell behavior. Drosophila Armadillo (Arm) and its human homolog Beta-catenin are key players in adhesive junctions and in transduction of Wingless (Wg)/Wnt signals. Our working hypotheses are: 1) Several protein partners compete to bind Arm, and 2) Arm:dTCF activates Wg-responsive genes, while dTCF alone represses the same genes. Aim I is to understand how different partners compete with one another for binding Arm. Aim 2 focuses on how Arm and dTCF positively and negatively regulate Wg-responsive genes. In our Final Report last year, we reported significant progress on both Aims. Here we describe additional work we have accomplished during a final one-year no cost-extension. In this period, we have examined interaction of Wnt and JNK pathways and the role of the MAPK phosphates Puckered in this interaction.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA424714

Entities

People

  • Mark A. Peifer

Organizations

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animal Structures
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Membrane
  • Cell Membrane Structures
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Chemistry
  • Confocal Microscopy
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Genetics
  • Health Services
  • Intercellular Junctions
  • Medical Personnel
  • Stem Cells

Fields of Study

  • Biology

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