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Updated: May 26, 2026

Reconstitution Of β-catenin Degradation In Xenopus Egg Extract
Published on: June 17, 2014
Xenopus paraxial protocadherin inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signalling via casein kinase 2β
Anja Kietzmann1, Yingqun Wang, Dominik Weber
1Institute of Human Genetics, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitaet Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.
Abstract:
Xenopus paraxial protocadherin (PAPC) regulates cadherin-mediated cell adhesion and promotes the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway. Here we report that PAPC functions in the Xenopus gastrula as an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The intracellular domain of PAPC interacts with casein kinase 2 beta (CK2β), which is part of the CK2 holoenzyme. The CK2α/β complex stimulates Wnt/β-catenin signalling, and the physical interaction of CK2β with PAPC antagonizes this activity. By this mechanism, PAPC restricts the expression of Wnt target genes during gastrulation. These experiments identify a novel function of protocadherins as regulators of the Wnt pathway.
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