The many faces and functions of β-catenin

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Abstract
β‐Catenin (Armadillo in Drosophila ) is a multitasking and evolutionary conserved molecule that in metazoans exerts a crucial role in a multitude of developmental and homeostatic processes. More specifically, β‐catenin is an integral structural component of cadherin‐based adherens junctions, and the key nuclear effector of canonical Wnt signalling in the nucleus. Imbalance in the structural and signalling properties of β‐catenin often results in disease and deregulated growth connected to cancer and metastasis. Intense research into the life of β‐catenin has revealed a complex picture. Here, we try to capture the state of the art: we try to summarize and make some sense of the processes that regulate β‐catenin, as well as the plethora of β‐catenin binding partners. One focus will be the interaction of β‐catenin with different transcription factors and the potential implications of these interactions for direct cross‐talk between β‐catenin and non‐Wnt signalling pathways.