Systematic peptide array-based delineation of the differential beta-catenin interaction with Tcf4, E-cadherin, and adenomatous polyposis coli

J Biol Chem. 2005 Feb 25;280(8):7107-17. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M410215200. Epub 2004 Dec 9.

Abstract

Nuclear accumulation of the complex between beta-catenin and proteins of the T-cell factor (Tcf) family is a hallmark of many cancers. Targeting this interaction for drug development is complicated by the fact that E-cadherin and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) bind to overlapping sites on beta-catenin. Inhibiting their interactions might actually promote tumor growth. To identify selective beta-catenin binding hot spots of Tcf4, E-cadherin, and APC, array technology with peptides of up to 53 amino acids length was used. Interactions were monitored by a quantitative fluorescent readout, which was shown to represent a monitor of true equilibrium binding constants. We identified minimal binding motifs in the beta-catenin ligands and showed that most of the 15-mer and 20-mer repeats of APC did not interact, at least when non-phosphorylated, and defined a consensus binding motif also present in APC. We confirmed previously found hot spots and identified new ones. The method allowed us to locate a hydrophobic pocket that was relevant for the Tcf, but not the E-cadherin interaction, and would thus constitute an ideal drug target site.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cadherins / chemistry
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / chemistry
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis*
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Protein Array Analysis*
  • Protein Interaction Mapping / methods
  • TCF Transcription Factors
  • Trans-Activators / chemistry
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • beta Catenin

Substances

  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • CTNNB1 protein, mouse
  • Cadherins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Peptides
  • TCF Transcription Factors
  • TCF7L2 protein, human
  • Tcf7l2 protein, mouse
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein
  • Transcription Factors
  • beta Catenin