AXIN2
AXIN2 (axin 2) is a cytoplasmic inhibitor of the Wnt signalling pathway that down-regulates beta-catenin. It is also known as Axin-2, MGC126582 and DKFZp781B0869, and is the human counterpart of mouse conductin and rat axil. Browse Assay Genie's current range of AXIN2 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
AXIN2 acts as an inhibitor of the Wnt signalling pathway. Its central role is to down-regulate beta-catenin, and it is thought to do so by facilitating the phosphorylation of beta-catenin and APC by GSK3B. NCBI Gene describes the protein as presumably important in regulating beta-catenin stability within the Wnt pathway, in the same way as its rodent homologues.
Evidence from the mouse shows how this may work. Mouse conductin organises a multiprotein complex containing APC (adenomatous polyposis coli), beta-catenin, glycogen synthase kinase 3-beta and conductin itself, and this assembly leads to the degradation of beta-catenin. The AXIN2 protein is found in the cytoplasm, where this destruction-complex activity takes place. Mouse and rat orthologues are both named Axin2, which makes rodent models a natural fit for studying the pathway.
The AXIN2 gene lies at 17q23-q24, a region that often shows loss of heterozygosity in breast cancer, neuroblastoma and other tumours. Deregulation of beta-catenin is considered an important event in the genesis of a number of malignancies, and mutations in the AXIN2 gene have been associated with colorectal cancer with defective mismatch repair. AXIN2 is related to AXIN1, another axin-family scaffold in beta-catenin regulation. Researchers studying Wnt signalling often look at the AXIN2 gene and protein alongside beta-catenin, APC and GSK3B.
AXIN2 inhibits the Wnt pathway and down-regulates beta-catenin, making it a useful point of study for pathway regulation.
AXIN2 is thought to support GSK3B-mediated phosphorylation of beta-catenin and APC within a complex that drives beta-catenin degradation.
Mutations in AXIN2 have been associated with colorectal cancer with defective mismatch repair.
AXIN2 maps to 17q23-q24, a region with frequent loss of heterozygosity in breast cancer, neuroblastoma and other tumours.
AXIN2 inhibits the Wnt signalling pathway and down-regulates beta-catenin. It probably facilitates the phosphorylation of beta-catenin and APC by GSK3B. Its mouse homologue, conductin, organises a complex with APC, beta-catenin and GSK3B that leads to beta-catenin degradation.
AXIN2 is the HGNC symbol for axin 2, and UniProt names the protein Axin-2. Aliases include MGC126582 and DKFZp781B0869. NCBI Gene also refers to the rodent homologues as mouse conductin and rat axil.
Mutations in AXIN2 have been associated with colorectal cancer with defective mismatch repair. The gene maps to a region showing frequent loss of heterozygosity in breast cancer, neuroblastoma and other tumours. Mouse and rat orthologues are called Axin2; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Axin-family and other Wnt pathway targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q9Y2T1; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.