The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway in the adult neurogenesis

The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in neural development, beta-catenin is a central component of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway, which not only performs the function of transmitting information in the cytoplasm, but also translocates to the nucleus-activating target gene transcription. The target genes in neural tissues have not been fully revealed, but the effects of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway in adult neurogenesis have been demonstrated by ongoing research, which are significative to the basic research and treatment of neuronal degeneration diseases. Here, we review key findings to show the characteristics of beta-catenin and its pivotal nature in the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway in a number of molecular studies. We also review current literature on the role of beta-catenin in adult neurogenesis, which consists of an active process encompassing the proliferation, migration, differentiation and final synaptogenesis.