Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro
Published on: December 10, 2021
Formation of the head organizer in hydra involves the canonical Wnt pathway
Mariya Broun1, Lydia Gee, Beate Reinhardt
1Department of Developmental and Cell Biology and the Developmental Biology Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
Abstract:
Stabilization of beta-catenin by inhibiting the activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta has been shown to initiate axis formation or axial patterning processes in many bilaterians. In hydra, the head organizer is located in the hypostome, the apical portion of the head. Treatment of hydra with alsterpaullone, a specific inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta, results in the body column acquiring characteristics of the head organizer, as measured by transplantation experiments, and by the expression of genes associated with the head organizer. Hence, the role of the canonical Wnt pathway for the initiation of axis formation was established early in metazoan evolution.
Related Concept Videos
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway
Hedgehog Signaling Pathway
Whole Body Regeneration
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

