This family consists of several eukaryotic beta-catenin-interacting (ICAT) proteins. Beta-catenin is a multifunctional protein involved in both cell adhesion and transcriptional activation. Transcription mediated by the beta-catenin/Tcf complex is involved in embryological development and is upregulated in various cancers. ICAT selectively inhibits beta-catenin/Tcf binding in vivo, without disrupting beta-catenin/cadherin interactions [1].

1: The crystal structure of the beta-catenin/ICAT complex reveals the inhibitory mechanism of ICAT. Graham TA, Clements WK, Kimelman D, Xu W; Mol Cell 2002;10:563-571. PMID:12408824