Abstract
The highly conserved Wnt signaling proteins play critical roles in guiding pattern formation, cell fate decision, and morphogenetic movement during animal development. They bind to the Frizzled family of seven-pass transmembrane proteins and initiate at least three different intracellular signaling pathways, resulting in regulation of gene expression and/or changes in cell behavior. A single transmembrane protein from the low-density-lipoprotein family functions as a co-receptor in the canonical/beta-catenin pathway. The specificity of Wnt signaling depends in part on the affinities between various Wnt-Frizzled pairs. A Wnt-dependent receptor dimerization or clustering step has been hypothesized as the step that initiates the canonical signaling cascade in cells.
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Dimerization
-
Embryonic and Fetal Development
-
Frizzled Receptors
-
Humans
-
LDL-Receptor Related Proteins
-
Ligands
-
Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5
-
Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6
-
Proteins / chemistry
-
Proteins / metabolism
-
Proto-Oncogene Proteins / chemistry
-
Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
-
Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology
-
Receptors, Cell Surface / chemistry
-
Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
-
Receptors, LDL / metabolism
-
Signal Transduction
-
Wnt Proteins
-
Zebrafish Proteins*
Substances
-
Frizzled Receptors
-
LDL-Receptor Related Proteins
-
LRP5 protein, human
-
LRP6 protein, human
-
Ligands
-
Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5
-
Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6
-
Proteins
-
Proto-Oncogene Proteins
-
Receptors, Cell Surface
-
Receptors, LDL
-
Wnt Proteins
-
Zebrafish Proteins