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XB-ART-3582
Genes Dev 2004 May 01;189:1072-87. doi: 10.1101/gad.1171104.
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Interactions between Sox9 and beta-catenin control chondrocyte differentiation.

Akiyama H , Lyons JP , Mori-Akiyama Y , Yang X , Zhang R , Zhang Z , Deng JM , Taketo MM , Nakamura T , Behringer RR , McCrea PD , de Crombrugghe B .


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Chondrogenesis is a multistep process that is essential for endochondral bone formation. Previous results have indicated a role for beta-catenin and Wnt signaling in this pathway. Here we show the existence of physical and functional interactions between beta-catenin and Sox9, a transcription factor that is required in successive steps of chondrogenesis. In vivo, either overexpression of Sox9 or inactivation of beta-catenin in chondrocytes of mouse embryos produces a similar phenotype of dwarfism with decreased chondrocyte proliferation, delayed hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation, and endochondral bone formation. Furthermore, either inactivation of Sox9 or stabilization of beta-catenin in chondrocytes also produces a similar phenotype of severe chondrodysplasia. Sox9 markedly inhibits activation of beta-catenin-dependent promoters and stimulates degradation of beta-catenin by the ubiquitination/proteasome pathway. Likewise, Sox9 inhibits beta-catenin-mediated secondary axis induction in Xenopus embryos. Beta-catenin physically interacts through its Armadillo repeats with the C-terminal transactivation domain of Sox9. We hypothesize that the inhibitory activity of Sox9 is caused by its ability to compete with Tcf/Lef for binding to beta-catenin, followed by degradation of beta-catenin. Our results strongly suggest that chondrogenesis is controlled by interactions between Sox9 and the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway.

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Species referenced: Xenopus laevis
Genes referenced: ctnnb1 myc sox9


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References [+] :
Akiyama, The transcription factor Sox9 has essential roles in successive steps of the chondrocyte differentiation pathway and is required for expression of Sox5 and Sox6. 2002, Pubmed