β-Catenin is a key downstream effector in the Wnt signaling pathway. It is implicated in two major biological processes in vertebrates: early embryonic development and tumorigenesis. Phosphorylation at Ser-552 by AMPK promotes stabilizion of the protein, enhancing TCF/LEF-mediated transcription. Phosphorylation on Tyr-654 decreases CDH1 binding and enhances TBP binding. GSK-3β destabilizes β-catenin by phosphorylating it at Ser33, Ser37, and Thr41. Mutations at these sites result in the stabilization of β-catenin protein levels and have been found in many tumor cell lines.
