Proximal events in Wnt signal transduction

Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2009 Jul;10(7):468-77. doi: 10.1038/nrm2717.

Abstract

The Wnt family of secreted ligands act through many receptors to stimulate distinct intracellular signalling pathways in embryonic development, in adults and in disease processes. Binding of Wnt to the Frizzled family of receptors and to low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) or LRP6 co-receptors stimulates the intracellular Wnt-beta-catenin signalling pathway, which regulates beta-cateninstability and context-dependent transcription. This signalling pathway controls many processes, such as cell fate determination, cell proliferation and self-renewal of stem and progenitor cells. Intriguingly, the transmembrane receptor Tyr kinases Ror2 and Ryk, as well as Frizzledreceptors that act independently of LRP5 or LRP6, function as receptors for Wnt and activate beta-catenin-independent pathways. This leads to changes in cell movement and polarity and to the antagonism of the beta-catenin pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cilia / metabolism
  • Frizzled Receptors / metabolism
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Frizzled Receptors
  • Wnt Proteins
  • GTP-Binding Proteins