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Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway

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 Pathway

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...

Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways

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 Pathways

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...

Catenins

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 Renewal

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: May 14, 2026

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro

Published on: December 10, 2021

Lipid modification in Wnt structure and function.

Jiyuan Ke¹, H Eric Xu, Bart O Williams

¹Laboratory of Structural Studies, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA.

Current Opinion in Lipidology

|January 26, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The crystal structure of Wnt proteins, crucial for embryonic development and tissue homeostasis, has been determined. This breakthrough clarifies Wnt signaling mechanisms and the necessity of lipid modification for Wnt activation.

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Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro

Published on: December 10, 2021

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Published on: October 6, 2017

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Developmental Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Wnt proteins are essential morphogens involved in embryonic development, stem cell renewal, and tissue homeostasis.
Mammalian Wnt signaling pathways have been historically challenging to study biochemically.
Wnt proteins undergo crucial lipid modifications for their function.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the fundamental aspects of Wnt signaling.
To provide historical context on the biochemical challenges in Wnt protein research.
To discuss the implications of the first Wnt protein crystal structure.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on Wnt proteins and signaling.
Analysis of biochemical properties and lipid modifications of Wnt proteins.
Discussion of the structural data from the Wnt8-Fz8 crystal structure.

Main Results:

The crystal structure of a Wnt protein (Wnt8-Fz8) has been determined.
This structure provides insights into the biochemical challenges previously faced in Wnt research.
Lipid modification of Wnt proteins is confirmed as essential for activation.

Conclusions:

The Wnt8-Fz8 structure offers new avenues for understanding Wnt signaling activation.
Structural insights clarify the role of Wnt lipid modification in pathway activation.
This advancement facilitates a deeper comprehension of Wnt protein function in biological processes.