Technical Notes: beta-Catenin Research Tools

beta-Catenin is a downstream component of canonical Wnt signaling pathways. In unstimulated cells, beta-catenin is phosphorylated by the kinase GSK-3, and subsequently targeted for proteasomal degradation. Wnt binding to its receptors Frizzled and LRP-5/6, sup­presses beta-catenin phosphorylation. beta-Catenin then accumulates and binds to LEF/TCF transcription factors resulting in the activation of Wnt target genes. The canonical Wnt pathway plays a role in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and motility, and has been implicated in tumor formation. Therefore, it is important to have quality research reagents for the study of beta-catenin and its activities. For an updated listing of other Wnt-related research reagents including antibodies, proteins, and ELISAs designed to study ligands, receptors, inhibitors, and intracellular signaling mediators, go to www.RnDSystems.com/go/Wnt

Figure 1 Figure 2
Figure 1. Lysates prepared from human MCF-7, HeLa, A431, SK-MEL-28, and DLD-2C2 cells were quantified with R&D Systems Human Total beta-Catenin DuoSet® IC ELISA (Catalog # DYC1329). The same cell lysates were also immunoblotted (inset) with R&D Systems Human/Mouse/Rat Anti-beta-Catenin Monoclonal Antibody (Catalog # MAB1329). The DuoSet IC ELISA results correlate well with the total amount of beta-catenin detected by Western blot. Figure 2. beta-Catenin was detected in sections of paraffin embedded human kidney cancer tissues using R&D Systems Anti-Human/Mouse/Rat beta-catenin Monoclonal Antibody (Catalog # MAB1329). Tissues were stained using an anti-mouse HRP-DAB cell and tissue staining kit (brown) and counterstained with hematoxylin (blue). The inset shows control staining without primary antibody.