The WNTs are a family of secreted glycoproteins that have been shown to be involved in a variety of developmental processes in many organisms. The WNT gene family consists of structurally related genes that encode cysteine-rich secreted glycoproteins that act as extracellular signaling factors.

Members

Fnctions

Wnt proteins as lipid-linked morphogens

Wnt and Hedgehog family proteins are secreted morphogens that act on surrounding cells to pattern many different tissues in both vertebrates and invertebrates.

The discovery that these proteins are covalently linked to lipids has raised the puzzling problem of how they come to be released from cells and move through tissue.

A synergistic combination of biochemical, cell biological and genetic approaches over the past several years is beginning to illuminate both the forms in which lipid-linked morphogens are released from cells and the variety of molecular and cell biological mechanisms that control their dispersal. (#16364628#)

Examples

 SHH

Targets - Ligands

 beta-catenin

Features

 Wnt signaling pathway

References

 Eaton S. Release and trafficking of lipid-linked morphogens. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2006 Feb;16(1):17-22. PMID: #16364628#

 Moon RT, Kohn AD, Ferrari GV, Kaykas A. WNT and beta-catenin signalling: diseases and therapies. Nat Rev Genet. 2004 Sep;5(9):691-701. PMID: #15372092#

 Tolwinski NS, Wieschaus E. Rethinking WNT signaling. Trends Genet. 2004 Apr;20(4):177-81. PMID: #15041171#

 Nusse R. WNT targets. Repression and activation. Trends Genet. 1999 Jan;15(1):1-3. PMID: #10087922#

 Moon RT, Brown JD, Torres M. WNTs modulate cell fate and behavior during vertebrate development. Trends Genet. 1997 Apr;13(4):157-62. PMID: #9097727#