Axin directly interacts with plakoglobin and regulates its stability

Plakoglobin is homologous to beta-catenin. Axin, a Wnt signal negative regulator, enhances glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3 beta-dependent phosphorylation of beta-catenin and stimulates the degradation of beta-catenin. Therefore, we examined the effect of Axin on plakoglobin stability. Axin formed a complex with plakoglobin in COS cells and SW480 cells. Axin directly bound to plakoglobin, and this binding was inhibited by beta-catenin. Axin promoted GSK-3 beta-dependent phosphorylation of plakoglobin. Furthermore, overexpression of Axin down-regulated the level of plakoglobin in SW480 cells. These results suggest that Axin regulates the stability of plakoglobin by enhancing its phosphorylation by GSK-3 beta and that Axin may act on beta-catenin and plakoglobin in similar manners.