Phospho-regulation of β-catenin adhesion and signaling functions

beta-Catenin plays a critical structural role in cadherin- based adhesions and is also an essential co-activator of Wnt-mediated gene expression. The degree to which beta-catenin participates in these two functions is dictated by the availability of beta-catenin binding partners, and an emerging theme is that these binding interactions are regulated by phosphorylation. Inputs from various cell-signaling events can therefore impact beta-catenin function, which may be necessary for the finely tuned adhesive and signaling responses required for tissue morphogenesis.