PAK1 interacts with β-catenin and is required for the regulation of the β-catenin signalling pathway by gastrins

Abstract

β-catenin regulates cell-cell adhesion by binding to E-cadherin at the cell membrane and, when translocated into the nucleus, mediates signalling by activation of transcription factors such as TCF4. Mutations of the components of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway are found in many gastrointestinal cancers. Gastrins, including amidated (Gamide) and glycine-extended (Ggly) gastrin17, stimulate the proliferation of gastrointestinal cancer cells. Gastrins also regulate β-catenin signalling through multiple pathways which seem to converge on p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1). In this study, we have investigated the role of PAK1 in the regulation of β-catenin signalling by gastrins. Here we report for the fir..