SOX9 and TCF transcription factors associate to mediate Wnt/ß-catenin target gene activation in colorectal cancer.

Activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway regulates gene expression by promoting the formation of a ß-catenin-T-cell factor (TCF) complex on target enhancers. In addition to TCFs, other transcription factors interact with the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway at different levels to produce tissue-specific patterns of Wnt target gene expression. The transcription factor SOX9 potently represses many Wnt target genes by downregulating ß-catenin protein levels. Here, we find using colony formation and cell growth assays that SOX9 surprisingly promotes the proliferation of Wnt-driven colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. In contrast to how it indirectly represses Wnt targets, SOX9 directly co-occupies and activates multiple Wnt-responsive enhancers in CRC cells. Our examination of the binding site grammar of these enhancers shows the presence of TCF and SOX9 binding sites that are necessary for transcriptional activation. In addition, we identify a physical interaction between the DNA-binding domains of TCFs and SOX9 and show that TCF-SOX9 interactions are important for target gene regulation and CRC cell growth. Our work demonstrates a highly context-dependent effect of SOX9 on Wnt targets, with the presence or absence of SOX9-binding sites on Wnt-regulated enhancers determining whether they are directly activated or indirectly repressed by SOX9.

Wnt target enhancer regulation by a CDX/TCF transcription factor collective and a novel DNA motif.

Transcriptional regulation by Wnt signalling is primarily thought to be accomplished by a complex of ß-catenin and TCF family transcription factors (TFs). Although numerous studies have suggested that additional TFs play roles in regulating Wnt target genes, their mechanisms of action have not been investigated in detail. We characterised a Wnt-responsive element (WRE) downstream of the Wnt target gene Axin2 and found that TCFs and Caudal type homeobox (CDX) proteins were required for its activation. Using a new separation-of-function TCF mutant, we found that WRE activity requires the formation of a TCF/CDX complex. Our systematic mutagenesis of this enhancer identified other sequences essential for activation by Wnt signalling, including several copies of a novel CAG DNA motif. Computational and experimental evidence indicates that the TCF/CDX/CAG mode of regulation is prevalent in multiple WREs. Put together, our results demonstrate the complex nature of cis- and trans- interactions required for signal-dependent enhancer activity.

The Wnt Transcriptional Switch: TLE Removal or Inactivation?

Many targets of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway are regulated by TCF transcription factors, which play important roles in animal development, stem cell biology, and oncogenesis. TCFs can regulate Wnt targets through a "transcriptional switch," repressing gene expression in unstimulated cells and promoting transcription upon Wnt signaling. However, it is not clear whether this switch mechanism is a general feature of Wnt gene regulation or limited to a subset of Wnt targets. Co-repressors of the TLE family are known to contribute to the repression of Wnt targets in the absence of signaling, but how they are inactivated or displaced by Wnt signaling is poorly understood. In this mini-review, we discuss several recent reports that address the prevalence and molecular mechanisms of the Wnt transcription switch, including the finding of Wnt-dependent ubiquitination/inactivation of TLEs. Together, these findings highlight the growing complexity of the regulation of gene expression by the Wnt pathway.

Repression of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling by SOX9 and Mastermind-like transcriptional coactivator 2.

Wnt/ß-catenin signaling requires inhibition of a multiprotein destruction complex that targets ß-catenin for proteasomal degradation. SOX9 is a potent antagonist of the Wnt pathway and has been proposed to act through direct binding to ß-catenin or the ß-catenin destruction complex. Here, we demonstrate that SOX9 promotes turnover of ß-catenin in mammalian cell culture, but this occurs independently of the destruction complex and the proteasome. This activity requires SOX9's ability to activate transcription. Transcriptome analysis revealed that SOX9 induces the expression of the Notch coactivator Mastermind-like transcriptional activator 2 (MAML2), which is required for SOX9-dependent Wnt/ß-catenin antagonism. MAML2 promotes ß-catenin turnover independently of Notch signaling, and MAML2 appears to associate directly with ß-catenin in an in vitro binding assay. This work defines a previously unidentified pathway that promotes ß-catenin degradation, acting in parallel to established mechanisms. SOX9 uses this pathway to restrict Wnt/ß-catenin signaling.

Wnt target genes and where to find them.

Wnt/ß-catenin signaling is highly conserved throughout metazoans, is required for numerous essential events in development, and serves as a stem cell niche signal in many contexts. Misregulation of the pathway is linked to several human pathologies, most notably cancer. Wnt stimulation results in stabilization and nuclear import of ß-catenin, which then acts as a transcriptional co-activator. Transcription factors of the T-cell family (TCF) are the best-characterized nuclear binding partners of ß-catenin and mediators of Wnt gene regulation. This review provides an update on what is known about the transcriptional activation of Wnt target genes, highlighting recent work that modifies the conventional model. Wnt/ß-catenin signaling regulates genes in a highly context-dependent manner, and the role of other signaling pathways and TCF co-factors in this process will be discussed. Understanding Wnt gene regulation has served to elucidate many biological roles of the pathway, and we will use examples from stem cell biology, metabolism, and evolution to illustrate some of the rich Wnt biology that has been uncovered.