Wnt and Tcf3-mediated regulation of gene expression in mouse embryonic stem cells

The observation that Tcf3 (MGI name: Tcf7l1) bound the same genes as core stem cell transcription factors, Oct4 (MGI name:Pou5f1), Sox2 and Nanog, revealed a potentially important aspect of the poorly understood mechanism whereby Wnts stimulate self renewal of pluripotent mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. Although the conventional view of Tcf proteins as the -catenin-binding effectors of Wnt signaling suggested Tcf3 should activate target genes in response to Wnts, here we show that Wnt3a and Tcf3 effectively antagonize each others effects on gene expression. Genetic ablation of Tcf3 caused similar effects as treating cells with recombinant Wnt3a.

12

Yi F, Pereira L, Hoffman JA, Shy BR, Yuen CM, Liu DR, Merrill BJ