Abstract
Genetic and epigenetic defects in Wnt/beta-catenin signaling play important roles in colorectal cancer progression. Here we identify DACT3, a member of the DACT (Dpr/Frodo) gene family, as a negative regulator of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling that is transcriptionally repressed in colorectal cancer. Unlike other Wnt signaling inhibitors that are silenced by DNA methylation, DACT3 repression is associated with bivalent histone modifications. Remarkably, DACT3 expression can be robustly derepressed by a pharmacological combination that simultaneously targets both histone methylation and deacetylation, leading to strong inhibition of Dishevelled (Dvl)-mediated Wnt/beta-catenin signaling and massive apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells. Our study identifies DACT3 as an important regulator of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in colorectal cancer and suggests a potential strategy for therapeutic control of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in colorectal cancer.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
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Adenosine / analogs & derivatives
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Adenosine / pharmacology
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Adenosylhomocysteinase / antagonists & inhibitors
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Adenosylhomocysteinase / metabolism
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Apoptosis
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Azacitidine / analogs & derivatives
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Azacitidine / pharmacology
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Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy
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Colorectal Neoplasms / enzymology
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Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
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Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
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Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
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DNA Methylation
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DNA Modification Methylases / antagonists & inhibitors
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DNA Modification Methylases / metabolism
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Decitabine
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Dishevelled Proteins
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Down-Regulation
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Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Epigenesis, Genetic* / drug effects
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Gene Expression Profiling / methods
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic* / drug effects
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HCT116 Cells
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Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
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Histone Deacetylases / metabolism
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Histones / metabolism*
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Humans
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Hydroxamic Acids / pharmacology
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Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
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Phosphoproteins / metabolism
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Promoter Regions, Genetic
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Reproducibility of Results
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Signal Transduction / drug effects
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Signal Transduction / genetics*
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Transfection
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Wnt Proteins / genetics
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Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
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beta Catenin / genetics
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beta Catenin / metabolism*
Substances
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
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CTNNB1 protein, human
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Dishevelled Proteins
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Enzyme Inhibitors
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Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
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Histones
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Hydroxamic Acids
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Phosphoproteins
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Wnt Proteins
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beta Catenin
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trichostatin A
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3-deazaneplanocin
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Decitabine
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DNA Modification Methylases
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Adenosylhomocysteinase
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Histone Deacetylases
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Adenosine
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Azacitidine