One Transgene: Two Outcomes

The study by DasGupta et al. investigated the effects of a modified β-catenin protein in mouse skin, which lacked the DNA binding domain and was stabilized against degradation. This altered β-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 the dual role of β-catenin in cell fate determination, influenced by its interaction with the Wnt signaling pathway and the abundance of interacting factors.