One Transgene: Two Outcomes

DasGupta et al. studied the effects of a modified β-catenin in mouse skin, which lacked the DNA binding domain, using a transgenic mouse model. This modified β-catenin, ΔNΔCβ-catenin, acted as a dominant negative in hair follicle cells, converting them into epidermal cells and forming cysts instead of hair follicles. In contrast, in cells closer to the skin surface, it acted as a gain-of-function mutation, leading to abnormal structures and hair cell tumors. The study highlighted that the effects of β-catenin signaling varied depending on the cell type and the ratio of modified to endogenous β-catenin, suggesting differences in interacting factors influenced the outcomes.