Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
11:14
Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro
Published on: December 10, 2021
Cell signaling: moving to a Wnt-Rap
1Research Tower, Room 629, Department of Biochemistry, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine, 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA. habasra@umdnj.edu
Current Biology : CB
|June 21, 2007
Summary
A novel Wnt signaling pathway, independent of beta-catenin, regulates cell movement. Casein kinase Iepsilon activates Rap1 GTPase, mediating this non-canonical Wnt pathway during vertebrate gastrulation.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Developmental biology
- Molecular signaling
Background:
- Non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways regulate crucial cellular processes like polarization and migration.
- Understanding the diversity of Wnt signaling is key to deciphering developmental mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel non-canonical Wnt pathways.
- To elucidate the role of casein kinase Iepsilon in Wnt signaling.
- To investigate the regulation of cell movements during vertebrate gastrulation.
Main Methods:
- Investigated Wnt signaling pathways.
- Utilized casein kinase Iepsilon as a focus.
- Analyzed the activation of Rap1 GTPase.
- Studied vertebrate gastrulation models.
Main Results:
- Identified a new non-canonical Wnt pathway mediated by casein kinase Iepsilon.
- Demonstrated that casein kinase Iepsilon activates the Rap1 GTPase.
- Showed this pathway is involved in vertebrate gastrulation.
Conclusions:
- Casein kinase Iepsilon mediates a novel beta-catenin-independent Wnt pathway.
- This pathway's activation of Rap1 GTPase is crucial for vertebrate gastrulation.
Related Concept Videos
02:54Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway
The gene encoding the main signaling molecules of the Wnt signaling pathways (the Wnt proteins) was discovered almost four decades ago by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus. They identified and originally named the gene "wingless" (wg) after a phenotype discovered during their landmark genetic screen in Drosophila for body pattern defects. At around the same time, another researcher named Harold Varmus found that a murine tumor virus activates the mammalian wg homolog, Int-1, which results in tumor...
02:54Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway
The gene encoding the main signaling molecules of the Wnt signaling pathways (the Wnt proteins) was discovered almost four decades ago by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus. They identified and originally named the gene "wingless" (wg) after a phenotype discovered during their landmark genetic screen in Drosophila for body pattern defects. At around the same time, another researcher named Harold Varmus found that a murine tumor virus activates the mammalian wg homolog, Int-1, which results in tumor...
01:41Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways
Wnt is a zygotic effect gene that is expressed during very early embryonic development. It regulates various processes in animals starting from early development through the adult stage, such as organogenesis in the embryo and maintenance of neuronal and blood stem cells. Wnt proteins can induce a wide variety of intracellular pathways depending upon the specific abilities of different Wnt ligands to form a complex with shared and cognate receptors in the presence of different co-receptors. The...
01:41Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways
Wnt is a zygotic effect gene that is expressed during very early embryonic development. It regulates various processes in animals starting from early development through the adult stage, such as organogenesis in the embryo and maintenance of neuronal and blood stem cells. Wnt proteins can induce a wide variety of intracellular pathways depending upon the specific abilities of different Wnt ligands to form a complex with shared and cognate receptors in the presence of different co-receptors. The...
01:17Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Some...
03:14Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...