WDR26 is a new partner of Axin1 in the canonical Wnt signaling pathway

The stability of beta-catenin is very important for canonical Wnt signaling. A protein complex including Axin/APC/GSK3 beta phosphorylates beta-catenin to be degraded by ubiquitination with beta-TrCP. In the recent study, we isolated WDR26, a protein that binds to Axin. Here, we found that WDR26 is a negative regulator of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, and that WDR26 affected beta-catenin levels. In addition, WDR26/Axin binding is involved in the ubiquitination of beta-catenin. These results suggest that WDR26 plays a negative role in beta-catenin degradation in the Wnt signaling pathway.