MGAT1 is a novel transcriptional target of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway

Background: The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is an evolutionary conserved pathway, which has important functions in vertebrate early development, axis formation, cellular proliferation and morphogenesis. Additionally, Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is one of the most important intracellular pathways that controls cancer progression. To date most of the identified targets of this pathway are shown to harbor tumorigenic properties. We previously showed that Mannosyl glycoprotein acetylglucosaminyl-transferase (MGAT1) enzyme is among the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling putative target genes in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (Huh7).