['Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis that secrete a zinc-dependent metalloprotease toxin termed the B. fragilis toxin (BFT) have been associated with acute diarrheal disease. BFT rapidly cleaves the extracellular domain of E-cadherin, leading to the complete degradation of the E-cadherin protein. E-cadherin is the primary intercellular adhesion protein of the zonula adherens, and its cytoplasmic domain associates with the nuclear signaling protein beta-catenin. The goal of this study was to examine if BFT triggers beta-catenin nuclear signaling in intestinal epithelial cells.', 'Cell biologic and biochemical techniques were combined to address beta-catenin nuclear signaling stimulated by BFT.', 'Loss of membrane-associated E-cadherin after BFT treatment of human colonic epithelial cells (HT29/C1 clone) triggers beta-catenin nuclear localization within 3 hours. Subsequently, c-myc transcription and translation are induced and persistent cellular proliferation ensues, mediated in part by beta-catenin/T-cell factor-dependent transcriptional activation. Cellular proliferation is stimulated by as little as 5 x 10(-10) mol/L BFT.'] Does bacteroides fragilis enterotoxin induce c-Myc expression and cellular proliferation?