The many faces and functions of β-catenin

beta-Catenin (Armadillo in Drosophila) is a multitasking and evolutionary conserved molecule that in metazoans exerts a crucial role in a multitude of developmental and homeostatic processes. More specifically, beta-catenin is an integral structural component of cadherin-based adherens junctions, and the key nuclear effector of canonical Wnt signalling in the nucleus. Imbalance in the structural and signalling properties of beta-catenin often results in disease and deregulated growth connected to cancer and metastasis. Intense research into the life of beta-catenin has revealed a complex picture. Here, we try to capture the state of the art: we try to summarize and make some sense of the processes that regulate beta-catenin, as well as the plethora of beta-catenin binding partners. One focus will be the interaction of beta-catenin with different transcription factors and the potential implications of these interactions for direct cross-talk between beta-catenin and non-Wnt signalling pathways. The EMBO Journal (2012) 31, 2714-2736. doi:10.1038/emboj.2012.150; Published online 22 May 2012