UNSW Embryology

Signal Factors - Wnt

© Dr Mark Hill (2006)

Acknowledgements

Introduction

The designation 'Wnt' was derived from two drosophila phenotypes 'wingless' and 'int'. The Wnt gene was first defined as a protooncogene, int1. Humans have at least 4 Wnt genes: Wnt7a gene is at 3p25 encoding a 349aa secreted glycoprotein. A patterning switch with different roles in different tissues.Wnt7a is secreted protein and binds to extracellular matrix. The mechanism of Wnt distribution (free diffusion, restricted diffusion and active transport) and all its possible cell receptors are still being determined. There is at least one WNT receptor called Frizzled (FZD). The Frizzled gene family encodes a seven-transmembrane receptor.

If you are interested in this family of proteins, look also at the WWW page by Roel Nusse called the Wnt gene Homepage. (More? see list of pages below)

Page Links: Introduction | Some Recent Findings |Signaling Factors | WWW Links | References | Glossary

Signaling Factors

 

• FUNCTION: PROBABLE DEVELOPMENTAL PROTEIN. SIGNALING BY WNT-7A ALLOWS SEXUALLY DIMORPHIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE MULLERIAN DUCTS (BY SIMILARITY).
• SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: POSSIBLY SECRETED AND ASSOCIATES WITH THE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX.
• TISSUE SPECIFICITY: EXPRESSION IS RESTRICTED TO PLACENTA, KIDNEY, TESTIS, UTERUS, FETAL LUNG, AND FETAL AND ADULT BRAIN.
• SIMILARITY: BELONGS TO THE WNT FAMILY.
• FUNCTION: PROBABLE DEVELOPMENTAL PROTEIN. SIGNALING BY WNT-7A ALLOWS SEXUALLY DIMORPHIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE MULLERIAN DUCTS.
• SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: POSSIBLY SECRETED AND ASSOCIATES WITH THE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX.
• DISEASE: MALE MICE LACKING WNT-7A FAIL TO UNDERGO REGRESSION OF THE MULLERIAN DUCT AS A RESULT OF THE ABSENCE OF THE RECEPTOR FOR MULLERIAN-INHIBITING SUBSTANCE. WNT7A-DEFICIENT FEMALES ARE INFERTILE BECAUSE OF ABNORMAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE OVIDUCT AND UTERUS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE MULLERIAN DUCT DERIVATIVES.
• SIMILARITY: BELONGS TO THE WNT FAMILY.

(data from Expasy)

References

Links: Online Textbooks | Search Textbooks | PubMed | Search PubMed | Glossary

Online Textbooks

Molecular Biology of the Cell (4th Edn) Alberts, Bruce; Johnson, Alexander; Lewis, Julian; Raff, Martin; Roberts, Keith; Walter, Peter. New York: Garland Publishing; 2002.

Developmental Biology (6th Edn) Gilbert, Scott F. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates, Inc.; c2000.

Search NLM Online Textbooks- "hox" : Molecular Biology of the Cell | Molecular Cell Biology | The Cell- A molecular Approach

PubMed

Reviews

• Tadros W, Lipshitz HD. Setting the stage for development: mRNA translation and stability during oocyte maturation and egg activation in Drosophila. Dev Dyn. 2005 Mar;232(3):593-608.

Articles

Search PubMed

Search Aug2005 "Wnt" ?? reference articles of which ?? were reviews.

Search PubMed: term= Wnt

Glossary of Terms

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

External Links

The Wnt gene Homepage by Roel Nusse

• Mouse Wnt genes
• Comparative table of all vertebrate Wnt genes
• alignments of all mammalian Wnt genes
• Other Wnt pages

Quick Links

Development Notes ----------------- Menstrual Cycle Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Placenta Serial Images Genes/DNA Molecular Dev Abnormal Dev Postnatal Dev Notes Index

System Notes ----------------- Heart/Cardiovascular Respiratory Coelomic cavity Gastrointestinal Tract Head and Neck Neural Neural Crest Eye Ear Nose Endocrine Urogenital Musculoskeletal Integumentary

Movies ----------------- Embryo Growth Ultrasound Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Stage 13/14 Stage 22 Neural Head and Neck Heart Vasculature Gastrointestinal Urogenital Other Embryos Larsen Internet

Other Embryos ----------------- Chicken Fly Frog Mouse Rabbit Rat Worm Zebrafish Guinea Pig

UNSW Embryology ISBN: 0 7334 2321 3

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