Beta-catenin transcriptional complex (β-catenin/TCF/LEF complex)

The Beta-catenin transcriptional complex is a nuclear assembly that serves as the primary effector of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway (UniProt P35222). It is formed when stabilized beta-catenin (CTNNB1) translocates into the nucleus and binds to members of the T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer-binding factor (TCF/LEF) family of transcription factors (PubMed: 23575455). Once assembled, the complex recruits various chromatin-remodeling co-activators, such as CREB-binding protein (CBP) or p300, to initiate the transcription of genes like MYC and CCND1 involved in cell cycle progression and stemness (PubMed: 28213343). In many cancers, particularly colorectal cancer, mutations in the Wnt pathway lead to the constitutive formation of this complex, driving uncontrolled cell growth (PubMed: 30104354). Therapeutic strategies focus on disrupting the protein-protein interactions within the complex, such as the beta-catenin/CBP interaction, or promoting the degradation of its components to halt oncogenic signaling (PubMed: 28213343).

Other names

Wnt/beta-catenin signaling complexCTNNB1/TCF/LEF complexBeta-catenin/TCF complexNuclear beta-catenin complex

Inhibition of protein-protein interactions between beta-catenin and its transcriptional co-activators (e.g., CBP or TCF) or promoting the degradation of beta-catenin to prevent the expression of Wnt-target genes (PubMed: 28213343).