Axin在Wnt信号转导途径中的作用

Wnt信号转导途径是调控细胞形状、运动、黏附、增殖、分化、癌变及机体发育等过程的主要途径之一.Axin(轴蛋白)是一个体轴发育抑制因子，作为构架蛋白在Wnt信号转导途径中起着关键的作用.Axin通过不同的机制调节β连环蛋白的磷酸化和稳定性.它通过与APC、GSK-3β、β连环蛋白和CKIα结合形成复合体促进β连环蛋白的降解，还通过同源二聚化、核质穿梭、自身磷酸化和稳定性的调控来调节β连环蛋白的稳定性.Axin通过Wnt信号转导途径参与了一系列生物学效应的调控，如体轴发育、细胞死亡、神经元的分化等.作为一个新发现的肿瘤抑制因子，axin将为癌症的诊断和治疗提供新的有效的手段.

Roles of Axin in the Wnt Signaling Pathway

The Wnt signaling pathway plays important roles in cell shape, cell movement, cell adhesion, cell proliferation and differentiation, oncogenesis and development. Axin is an axis inhibitor. As a scaffold protein, it plays a critical role in the Wnt signaling pathway. Axin regulates the phosphorylation and stability of β-catenin via different mechanisms. It facilitates β-catenin degradation by assembling a β-catenin destruction complex including APC,GSK-3β,β-catenin,CKIαand axin itself. The homodimerization,nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling,phosphorylation and stability of axin itself also play important roles in β catenin regulation. In the Wnt signaling pathway, axin participates in the regulations of a series of biological effects such as axis development,cell death,neuronal differentiation and so on. As a newly recognized tumor suppressor,axin will provide a newly impactful means for diagnosis and therapy of cancer.