beta-catenin: molecular plasticity and drug design

The protein beta -catenin is an essential component of intercellular juncti ons and the Wnt growth factor signaling pathway. In many cancers, mutation of Writ pathway components leads to activation of oncogenes by the beta -ca tenin-Tcf transcription factor complex. This complex is therefore an attrac tive target for anti-cancer drugs, but any such compound must selectively i nterfere with the beta -catenin-Tcf complex without disrupting other essent ial interactions of beta -catenin. Recent structural and biochemical studie s have probed the molecular basis of ligand interaction by beta -catenin, a nd highlighted the possibilities and challenges of designing inhibitors of the beta -catenin-Tcf complex.