Stabilization of Beta-Catenin Promotes Melanocyte Specification at the Expense of the Schwann Cell Lineage

The study investigated the role of β-catenin in melanocyte development by generating mice with a constitutively active form of β-catenin in tyrosinase-expressing cells. It was found that β-catenin activation did not affect truncal melanoblasts but caused hyperpigmentation in the paws. When activated during specific developmental stages (E8.5-E11.5), β-catenin favored melanoblast specification over Schwann cells in the limbs by inducing MITF and repressing FoxD3. This indicated that β-catenin overexpression promoted the melanocyte lineage at the expense of Schwann cells.