A divergent canonical WNT-signaling pathway regulates microtubule dynamics: dishevelled signals locally to stabilize microtubules.

Dishevelled (DVL) is associated with axonal microtubules and regulates microtubule stability through the inhibition of the serine/threonine kinase, glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta). In the canonical WNT pathway, the negative regulator Axin forms a complex with beta-catenin and GSK-3beta, resulting in beta-catenin degradation. Inhibition of GSK-3beta by DVL increases beta-catenin ...
stability and TCF transcriptional activation. Here, we show that Axin associates with microtubules and unexpectedly stabilizes microtubules through DVL. In turn, DVL stabilizes microtubules by inhibiting GSK-3beta through a transcription- and beta-catenin-independent pathway. More importantly, axonal microtubules are stabilized after DVL localizes to axons. Increased microtubule stability is correlated with a decrease in GSK-3beta-mediated phosphorylation of MAP-1B. We propose a model in which Axin, through DVL, stabilizes microtubules by inhibiting a pool of GSK-3beta, resulting in local changes in the phosphorylation of cellular targets. Our data indicate a bifurcation in the so-called canonical WNT-signaling pathway to regulate microtubule stability.
Mesh Terms:
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing, Animals, Animals, Newborn, COS Cells, Cell Line, Cercopithecus aethiops, Cerebellum, Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3, Humans, Mice, Microtubules, Neurons, Phosphoproteins, Protein-Tyrosine Kinases, Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Signal Transduction, Transfection, Wnt Proteins
J. Cell Biol.
Date: Jan. 19, 2004
Download Curated Data For This Publication
111742
Switch View:
  • Interactions 2