One Transgene: Two Outcomes

DasGupta et al. studied the effects of a modified β-catenin in mouse skin, revealing that this altered protein, lacking certain domains, 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 near 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 on Wnt signaling varied depending on the cell type and the ratio of modified to endogenous β-catenin, suggesting that differences in interacting factors influenced cell fate outcomes.