학위논문 (박사)-- 서울대학교 대학원 : 생명과학부 생명과학전공, 2017. 2. 공영윤.Wnt/β-catenin (CTNNB1) signaling is crucial for the proliferation and maintenance of intestinal stem cells (ISCs). In the absence of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, the ISCs undergo immediate apoptosis and subsequently the whole intestinal crypt degenerates. The ISCs niche, Paneth and Cryptal mesencymal cells secrete abundant Wnt ligands at the crypt base. However, excessive activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling leads to ISC expansion and eventually colorectal cancer. Thus, negative regulators are required to maintain optimal levels of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Early diagnosis enables a pe...