Since YAP synergizes with β-catenin to induce HB formation, we next determined whether β-catenin also regulates SLC38A1 expression. However, no significant changes in SLC38A1 mRNA and protein levels were detected in HB cell lines upon β-catenin silencing (Figure 6), thus indicating that modulation of SLC38A1 expression is β-catenin-independent in HB cells.