1. Interactions between Sox9 and beta-catenin control chondrocyte differentiation.
- Author
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Akiyama H, Lyons JP, Mori-Akiyama Y, Yang X, Zhang R, Zhang Z, Deng JM, Taketo MM, Nakamura T, Behringer RR, McCrea PD, and de Crombrugghe B
- Subjects
- Animals, Binding Sites, Cell Differentiation, Cell Division, Chondrocytes physiology, Cyclin D1 metabolism, Cytoskeletal Proteins genetics, Enhancer Elements, Genetic, Gene Expression, Heterozygote, High Mobility Group Proteins chemistry, High Mobility Group Proteins genetics, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Mutant Strains, Mice, Transgenic, Models, Biological, Phenotype, SOX9 Transcription Factor, Signal Transduction, Trans-Activators genetics, Transcription Factors chemistry, Transcription Factors genetics, Transcription, Genetic, Xenopus Proteins, Xenopus laevis, beta Catenin, Chondrocytes cytology, Cytoskeletal Proteins physiology, High Mobility Group Proteins physiology, Trans-Activators physiology, Transcription Factors physiology
- Abstract
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.
- Published
- 2004
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