Practice question

β-catenin signaling in XX gonadal precursors acts as female-promoting effector downstream of Wnt4 and Rspo1. Ligand binding inhibits β-catenin destruction complex composed of Axin, Apc and Gsk3β, allowing stabilized β-catenin to enter nucleus interacting with Tcf/Lef factors to activate transcription of Foxl2, Fst and repress Sox9/Fgf9 male circuit. Gain-of-function stabilization in XY gonads induces male-to-female sex reversal with granulosa differentiation, while conditional deletion in XX causes masculinization. Therefore β-catenin accumulation favors ovarian fate, maintaining follicular organization and germ cell meiosis.