T-cell factor-1 (TCF-1) is a DNA-binding transcriptional activator that isessential for lymphoid cell development. The TCF family of transcription factors are activated by the Wnt-1 and Wingless pathways and are characterized by the presence of a conserved protein motif, the high mobility group (HMG) 1 box, which mediates DNA binding. Several alternative splice variants of TCF-1 have been identified, including TCF-1A, which share a conserved amino terminus and differ in the carboxy terminal sequences. The Wnt mediated signaling pathway induces cytosolic (beta)-catenin binding to TCF proteins within the nucleus, leading to the enhanced expression of the Wnt target genes. The (beta)-catenin-TCF complexes are negatively regulated by the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor protein, which phosphorylates (beta)-catenin and, in turn, increases the degradation of cytosolic (beta)-catenin and inhibits the transcriptional activity of the TCF proteins.