About CTNNB1
CTNNB1 encodes beta-catenin, a protein with dual roles in cell adhesion and gene regulation. It is part of the adherens junctions that maintain epithelial cell layers by controlling cell growth and cell-cell adhesion, and it also anchors the actin cytoskeleton and helps transmit the signal that stops cells from dividing once a tissue layer is complete. In the WNT signaling pathway, beta-catenin acts as a transcriptional activator that switches on growth-related genes such as Cyclin D1 and MYC. The gene is associated with colorectal cancer, pilomatrixoma, medulloblastoma, and ovarian cancer, and it acts as an oncogene: excessive beta-catenin activity is common in many solid tumors, including uterine, ovarian, liver, and colorectal cancers.