Receptor for Wnt proteins. Most of frizzled receptors are coupled to the beta-catenin canonical signaling pathway, which leads to the activation of disheveled proteins, inhibition of GSK-3 kinase, nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin and activation of Wnt target genes. A second signaling pathway involving PKC and calcium fluxes has been seen for some family members, but it is not yet clear if it represents a distinct pathway or if it can be integrated in the canonical pathway, as PKC seems to be required for Wnt-mediated inactivation of GSK-3 kinase. Both pathways seem to involve interactions with G-proteins. May be involved in transduction and intercellular transmission of polarity information during tissue morphogenesis and/or in differentiated tissues.
Combining with an extracellular signal and transmitting the signal across the membrane by activating an associated G-protein; promotes the exchange of GDP for GTP on the alpha subunit of a heterotrimeric G-protein complex.
Members of the Wnt family of lipoglycoproteins initiate signaling by binding to Frizzled (Fz) receptors, and the signal is then relayed by Disheveled (Dvl). The Dvl PDZ domain is known to interact directly with a peptide derived from the KTXXXW motif of Fz7, which is conserved in all known Fz subtypes. We found that an extended region spanning the KTXXXW motif on both its N-terminal and C-terminal sides dramatically influences the affinity of peptides derived from Fz7 for Dvl PDZ. An alanine scanning study identified the specific residues external to the KTXXXW motif that are important for high-affinity binding. In a circular dichroism analysis, mutation of some of these critical residues resulted in peptide conformational changes, suggesting that the secondary structure of the peptides contributes to Fz-Dvl PDZ binding. Of the 10 known Fz subtypes, peptides derived from only Fz1, Fz2, Fz3, Fz4, and Fz7 directly bound to Dvl PDZ domain in our study. Other Fz subtypes, including some known to be involved in Wnt/beta-catenin signaling (Fz5, Fz9), did not bind to Dvl, suggesting that direct interaction with Dvl PDZ does not determine the subtype-specific functionality of Fz. Molecular modeling and circular dichroism studies indicated that the Fz peptides that bind to Dvl PDZ domain form specific conformations that are different from those of nonbinding peptides.
Erratum in:
Protein Sci. 18(6), 1333 (2009 Jun)
Evidence
2:
Inferred from Physical InteractionBHF-UCL
Wnt signaling pathways are essential for embryonic patterning, and they are disturbed in a wide spectrum of diseases, including cancer. An unresolved question is how the different Wnt pathways are supported and regulated. We previously established that the postsynaptic density 95/disc-large/zona occludens (PDZ) protein syntenin binds to syndecans, Wnt coreceptors, and known stimulators of protein kinase C (PKC)alpha and CDC42 activity. Here, we show that syntenin also interacts with the C-terminal PDZ binding motif of several Frizzled Wnt receptors, without compromising the recruitment of Dishevelled, a key downstream Wnt-signaling component. Syntenin is coexpressed with cognate Frizzled during early development in Xenopus. Overexpression and down-regulation of syntenin disrupt convergent extension movements, supporting a role for syntenin in noncanonical Wnt signaling. Syntenin stimulates c-jun phosphorylation and modulates Frizzled 7 signaling, in particular the PKCalpha/CDC42 noncanonical Wnt signaling cascade. The syntenin-Frizzled 7 binding mode indicates syntenin can accommodate Frizzled 7-syndecan complexes. We propose that syntenin is a novel component of the Wnt signal transduction cascade and that it might function as a direct intracellular link between Frizzled and syndecans.
Interacting selectively and non-covalently with any protein or protein complex (a complex of two or more proteins that may include other nonprotein molecules).
Evidence
1:
Inferred from Physical InteractionUniProtKB
Secreted Frizzled-related protein-1 (sFRP1) associates with Wnt proteins and its loss can lead to activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signalling. It is frequently downregulated in cancer, including prostate cancer, but its function in prostate cancer is unclear because it can increase proliferation of prostate epithelial cells. We investigated the function of sFRP1 in androgen-dependent prostate cancer and found that sFRP1 inhibited androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional activity. In addition, sFRP1 inhibited the proliferation of androgen-dependent LNCaP cells but not of an androgen-independent subline LNCaP-r, suggesting a role in androgen-dependent growth. The inhibition of AR by sFRP1 was unaffected by co-expression of Wnt3a, stabilised beta-catenin or beta-catenin shRNA, suggesting it does not involve Wnt/beta-catenin signalling. Wnt5a also inhibited AR and expression of Wnt5a and sFRP1 together did not further inhibit AR, suggesting that Wnt5a and sFRP1 activate the same signal(s) to inhibit AR. However, sFRP1 inhibition of AR was unaffected by inhibitors of kinases involved in Wnt/Ca(2+) and Wnt/planar cell polarity non-canonical Wnt signalling. Interestingly, the cysteine-rich domain of sFRP1 interacted with Frizzled receptors expressed in prostate cancer cells, suggesting that sFRP1/Frizzled complexes activate a signal that leads to repression of AR. Taken together, these observations highlight the function of beta-catenin-independent Wnt signalling in the control of AR activity and provide one explanation for sFRP1 downregulation in prostate cancer.
Signaling via the conserved WNT/beta-CATENIN pathway controls diverse developmental processes. To explore its potential role in the ovary, we investigated the expression of WNTs, frizzled (FZD) receptors and other pathway components in human cumulus cells obtained from oocytes collected for in vitro fertilization. Proteins were detected in cultured cells using immunofluorescence microscopy. Protein-protein interactions were analyzed by means of immunoprecipitation. WNT2, FZD2, FZD3 and FZD9 were identified but WNT1, WNT4 and FZD4 were not detected. WNT2 is co-expressed with FZD2, FZD3 and FZD9. Co-immunoprecipitation using WNT2 antibody demonstrated that WNT2 interacts with both FZD3 and FZD9, but only FZD9 antibody precipitated WNT2. We also identified DVL (disheveled), AXIN, GSK-3beta (glycogen synthase kinase-3beta) and beta-CATENIN. beta-CATENIN is concentrated in the plasma membranes. DVL co-localizes with FZD9 and AXIN in the membranes, but GSK-3beta has little co-localization with AXIN and beta-CATENIN. Interestingly, beta-CATENIN is highly co-localized with FZD9 and AXIN. CDH1 (E-cadherin) was also detected in the plasma membranes and cytoplasm, co-localized with beta-CATENIN, and CDH1 antibody precipitated beta-CATENIN. The results suggest that WNT2 could act through its receptor FZD9 to regulate the beta-CATENIN pathway in cumulus cells, recruiting beta-CATENIN into plasma membranes and promoting the formation of adherens junctions involving CDH1.
Signaling via the conserved WNT/beta-CATENIN pathway controls diverse developmental processes. To explore its potential role in the ovary, we investigated the expression of WNTs, frizzled (FZD) receptors and other pathway components in human cumulus cells obtained from oocytes collected for in vitro fertilization. Proteins were detected in cultured cells using immunofluorescence microscopy. Protein-protein interactions were analyzed by means of immunoprecipitation. WNT2, FZD2, FZD3 and FZD9 were identified but WNT1, WNT4 and FZD4 were not detected. WNT2 is co-expressed with FZD2, FZD3 and FZD9. Co-immunoprecipitation using WNT2 antibody demonstrated that WNT2 interacts with both FZD3 and FZD9, but only FZD9 antibody precipitated WNT2. We also identified DVL (disheveled), AXIN, GSK-3beta (glycogen synthase kinase-3beta) and beta-CATENIN. beta-CATENIN is concentrated in the plasma membranes. DVL co-localizes with FZD9 and AXIN in the membranes, but GSK-3beta has little co-localization with AXIN and beta-CATENIN. Interestingly, beta-CATENIN is highly co-localized with FZD9 and AXIN. CDH1 (E-cadherin) was also detected in the plasma membranes and cytoplasm, co-localized with beta-CATENIN, and CDH1 antibody precipitated beta-CATENIN. The results suggest that WNT2 could act through its receptor FZD9 to regulate the beta-CATENIN pathway in cumulus cells, recruiting beta-CATENIN into plasma membranes and promoting the formation of adherens junctions involving CDH1.
The series of molecular signals initiated by binding of a Wnt protein to a frizzled family receptor on the surface of the target cell, followed by propagation of the signal via beta-catenin, and ending with a change in transcription of target genes. In this pathway, the activated receptor signals via downstream effectors that result in the inhibition of beta-catenin phosphorylation, thereby preventing degradation of beta-catenin. Stabilized beta-catenin can then accumulate and travel to the nucleus to trigger changes in transcription of target genes.
Although Wnt-Frizzled (Fzd) signaling is critical in the pathophysiology of carcinomas, its role in human breast cancer has been difficult to establish. We show here that the adaptor protein Na(+)/H(+) exchange regulatory factor1 (NHERF1), a protein abundantly expressed in normal mammary epithelium, regulates Wnt signaling, maintaining low levels of β-catenin activation. NHERF1's effects are mediated by direct interactions between one of its PSD-95/drosophila discs large/ZO-1 (PDZ) domains and the C-terminus of a subset of Fzd receptors. Loss of NHERF1 in breast cancer cell lines enhances canonical Wnt signaling and Wnt-dependent cell proliferation. Furthermore, the mammary glands of NHERF1-knockout mice exhibit increased mammary duct density accompanied by increased proliferation and β-catenin activity. Finally, we demonstrate a negative correlation between NHERF1 expression and nuclear β-catenin in human breast carcinomas. Taken together, these results provide a novel insight into the regulation of Wnt signaling in normal and neoplastic breast tissues, and identify NHERF1 as an important regulator of the pathogenesis of breast tumors.
The process in which the migration of an axon growth cone of a commissural neuron is directed to its target in the brain in response to a combination of attractive and repulsive cues.
The process whose specific outcome is the progression of the facial nucleus over time, from its formation to the mature structure.
IBARefGenome
G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathway coupled to cGMP nucleotide second messengerdefinition[GO:0007199]‹silver
The series of molecular signals generated as a consequence of a G-protein coupled receptor binding to its physiological ligand, followed by activation of guanylyl cyclase (GC) activity and a subsequent increase in the concentration of cyclic GMP (cGMP).
The process whose specific outcome is the progression of the gonad over time, from its formation to the mature structure. The gonad is an animal organ that produces gametes; in some species it also produces hormones.
The process whose specific outcome is the progression of the hair follicle over time, from its formation to the mature structure. A hair follicle is a tube-like opening in the epidermis where the hair shaft develops and into which the sebaceous glands open.
The process in which the anatomical structures of the inner ear are generated and organized. The inner ear is the structure in vertebrates that contains the organs of balance and hearing. It consists of soft hollow sensory structures (the membranous labyrinth) containing fluid (endolymph) surrounded by fluid (perilymph) and encased in a bony cavity (the bony labyrinth). It consists of two chambers, the sacculus and utriculus, from which arise the cochlea and semicircular canals respectively.
The process in which a post-anal tail is generated and organized. A post-anal tail is a muscular region of the body that extends posterior to the anus. The post-anal tail may aid locomotion and balance.
The process whose specific outcome is the progression of the vasculature over time, from its formation to the mature structure. The vasculature is an interconnected tubular multi-tissue structure that contains fluid that is actively transported around the organism.
IBARefGenome
Pathways
According to KEGG, this protein belongs to the following pathways:
Protein involved in the Wnt signaling pathway. Wnts are a large family of cysteine-rich secreted glycoproteins that control development in organisms ranging from nematodes to mammals. Wnt genes are defined by sequence homology to the original members of the family, Wnt1 in the mouse and wingless (wg) in Drosophila. Wnt signaling is a very complex pathway which includes numerous ligands, receptors and transcriptional effectors. There is a well-characterized canonical pathway as well as diverse, less-characterized noncanonical pathways. Several components of Wnt signaling are implicated in the genesis of human cancer.
Protein involved in development, the process whereby a multicellular organism develops from its early immature forms, e.g., zygote, larva, embryo, into an adult.
Receptors which transduce extracellular signals across the cell membrane. At the external side they receive a ligand (a photon in case of opsins), and at the cytosolic side they activate a guanine nucleotide-binding (G) protein. These receptors are hydrophobic proteins that cross the membrane seven times.
A reference proteome is a set of protein sequences derived from a complete proteome which constitutes a defined standard for a particular user community. Reference proteomes are manually defined according to a number of criteria. They cover the proteomes of well- studied model organisms and other proteomes of interest for biomedical and biotechnological research. Reference proteomes have been selected to provide broad coverage of the tree of life, and constitute a representative cross-section of the taxonomic diversity to be found within UniProtKB.