Wnt proteins form a family of highly conserved secreted signaling molecules that regulate cell-to-cell interactions during embryogenesis. Wnt genes and Wnt signaling are also implicated in cancer. Insights into the mechanisms of Wnt action have emerged from several systems: genetics in
Drosophila and
Caenorhabditis elegans; biochemistry in cell culture and ectopic gene expression in
Xenopus embryos. Many Wnt genes in the mouse have been mutated, leading to very specific developmental defects. As currently understood, Wnt proteins bind to receptors of the Frizzled and LRP families on the cell surface. Through several cytoplasmic relay components, the signal is transduced to
b-catenin, which then enters the nucleus and forms a complex with TCF to activate transcription of Wnt target genes. These pages contain some
diagrams of the pathway. Wnt signaling has been discussed in many
reviews,
listed here.
August 1, 2007See History for timeline additions
of the Wnt homepage
The Wnt homepage was started on August 6, 1997
Roel Nusse (rnusse-at-stanford.edu), labhomepage