Implication of galectin-3 in Wnt signaling

Cancer Res. 2005 May 1;65(9):3535-7. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-0104.

Abstract

Galectin-3 (gal-3), a member of the beta-galactoside-binding proteins family, was identified as a binding partner of beta-catenin. Analysis of the human gal-3 sequence reveled a structural similarity to beta-catenin as it also contains the consensus sequence (S92XXXS96) for glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) phosphorylation and can serve as its substrate. In addition, Axin, a regulator protein of Wnt that complexes with beta-catenin, also binds gal-3 using the same sequence motif identified here by a deletion mutant analysis. The data presented here give credence to the suggestion that gal-3 is a key regulator in the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway and highlight the functional similarities between gal-3 and beta-catenin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axin Protein
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Galectin 3 / genetics
  • Galectin 3 / metabolism*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transfection
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin

Substances

  • Axin Protein
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • Ctnnb1 protein, rat
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Galectin 3
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Gsk3b protein, rat
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3