Transcription factor 7 (TCF7)

Three of the genes determining subunits of the CD3 complex, CD3-gamma (CD3G), CD3-delta (CD3D), and CD3-epsilon (CD3E), are tightly clustered in a stretch of 60 kb of DNA on human chromosome 11q23. This tight clustering might suggest that the CD3 genes are controlled by a single cis-acting element.

The most abundant TCF7 isoforms lack a beta-catenin interaction domain. TCF7 -/- mice develop adenomas in the gut and mammary glands. Introduction of a mutant APC allele into these mice substantially increases the number of these adenomas. TCF7 may act as a feedback repressor of beta-catenin TCF4 (TCF7L2) target genes and thus may cooperate with APC to suppress malignant transformation of epithelial cells.