One Transgene: Two Outcomes

    July 2002 in “ Science Signaling ”
    TLDR Modified β-catenin can cause different effects in mouse skin cells, leading to cysts or tumors depending on the cell type.
    The study by DasGupta et al. investigated the role of β-catenin in hair follicle cell fate using a transgenic mouse model expressing a modified version of β-catenin (ΔNΔCβ-catenin) that lacked the DNA binding domain. This modified β-catenin acted as a dominant negative in hair follicle cells, converting them into epidermal cells and leading to cyst formation instead of hair follicles. In contrast, in cells closer to the skin surface, it acted as a gain-of-function mutation, resulting in abnormal structures and hair cell tumors. The study highlighted that the effects of β-catenin on Wnt signaling varied depending on the cell type and the ratio of modified to endogenous β-catenin, suggesting differences in interacting factors.
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