[HTML][HTML] Role of TAZ as mediator of Wnt signaling

L Azzolin, F Zanconato, S Bresolin, M Forcato, G Basso… - Cell, 2012 - cell.com
L Azzolin, F Zanconato, S Bresolin, M Forcato, G Basso, S Bicciato, M Cordenonsi, S Piccolo
Cell, 2012cell.com
Wnt growth factors are fundamental regulators of cell fate, but how the Wnt signal is
translated into biological responses is incompletely understood. Here, we report that TAZ, a
biologically potent transcriptional coactivator, serves as a downstream element of the Wnt/β-
catenin cascade. This function of TAZ is independent from its well-established role as
mediator of Hippo signaling. In the absence of Wnt activity, the components of the β-catenin
destruction complex—APC, Axin, and GSK3—are also required to keep TAZ at low levels …
Summary
Wnt growth factors are fundamental regulators of cell fate, but how the Wnt signal is translated into biological responses is incompletely understood. Here, we report that TAZ, a biologically potent transcriptional coactivator, serves as a downstream element of the Wnt/β-catenin cascade. This function of TAZ is independent from its well-established role as mediator of Hippo signaling. In the absence of Wnt activity, the components of the β-catenin destruction complex—APC, Axin, and GSK3—are also required to keep TAZ at low levels. TAZ degradation depends on phosphorylated β-catenin that bridges TAZ to its ubiquitin ligase β-TrCP. Upon Wnt signaling, escape of β-catenin from the destruction complex impairs TAZ degradation and leads to concomitant accumulation of β-catenin and TAZ. At the genome-wide level, a substantial portion of Wnt transcriptional responses is mediated by TAZ. TAZ activation is a general feature of Wnt signaling and is functionally relevant to mediate Wnt biological effects.
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