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Related Concept Videos

Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways01:41

Non-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...
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways01:41

Non-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...
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway02:54

Canonical 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...
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway02:54

Canonical 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...
Catenins01:23

Catenins

Catenins are characterized by multiple binding domains and dynamic structures that allow them to function as linker proteins in cell junction complexes. All catenins, except α-catenin, contain a characteristic protein sequence called the armadillo repeat and are therefore also called armadillo proteins.
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the adherens...
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:12

Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro
11:14

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro

Published on: December 10, 2021

Wnt signaling in cnidarians.

Thomas W Holstein1

  • 1Zoological Institute, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|December 26, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Cnidarians, like Hydra and Nematostella, possess complex Wnt gene signaling crucial for their regeneration and development. Studying these ancient animals reveals fundamental insights into Wnt signaling pathways conserved across evolution.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary developmental biology
  • Zoology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cnidarians represent an ancient lineage at the base of metazoan evolution.
  • They possess a simple body plan and remarkable regenerative capabilities.
  • Wnt signaling pathways are fundamental in animal development and regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic complexity and functional roles of Wnt genes in cnidarians.
  • To explore the conservation of Wnt signaling pathways from cnidarians to vertebrates.
  • To establish cnidarians as model organisms for studying Wnt signaling.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics of Wnt genes in Hydra and Nematostella.
  • Functional studies of Wnt signaling in cnidarian development and regeneration.

More Related Videos

The Power of Simplicity: Sea Urchin Embryos as in Vivo Developmental Models for Studying Complex Cell-to-cell Signaling Network Interactions
07:34

The Power of Simplicity: Sea Urchin Embryos as in Vivo Developmental Models for Studying Complex Cell-to-cell Signaling Network Interactions

Published on: February 16, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro
11:14

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro

Published on: December 10, 2021

The Power of Simplicity: Sea Urchin Embryos as in Vivo Developmental Models for Studying Complex Cell-to-cell Signaling Network Interactions
07:34

The Power of Simplicity: Sea Urchin Embryos as in Vivo Developmental Models for Studying Complex Cell-to-cell Signaling Network Interactions

Published on: February 16, 2017

  • Identification and functional analysis of Wnt antagonists.

    • Main Results:

    • Cnidarians exhibit a surprisingly high complexity of Wnt genes.
    • Canonical Wnt signaling is essential for pattern formation and regeneration in Hydra.
    • Wnt signaling plays a role in gastrulation and early embryogenesis in Nematostella.
    • Cnidarian Wnt antagonists show conserved functions similar to vertebrate counterparts.

    Conclusions:

    • Cnidarians possess complex Wnt signaling pathways with conserved functions.
    • These animals serve as valuable models for understanding the basic principles of Wnt signaling.
    • The study highlights the evolutionary significance of Wnt signaling from early metazoans.