Frizzled-PDZ scaffold interactions in the control of Wnt signaling

摘要

Wnts form a large family of cysteine-rich secreted growth factors. They have been found throughout the animal kingdom performing an array of functions, from the establishment of the basic body plan and the generation of various organs and tissues to axon guidance and synapse formation. Mutational analysis has shown that Wnts have diverse roles during development, in governing cell fate, polarity, differentiation, migration and death. In adult organisms, Wnts function in homeostasis. Aberrant regulation, as a consequence of mutations in components of the Wnt signaling pathway and/or modulators, causes a wide spectrum of diseases, such as cancer, aortic valve calcification and several bone related phenotypes (Clevers, 2006; Karner et al., 2006; Kikuchi and Yamamoto, 2008; Logan and Nusse, 2004; Salinas and Zou, 2008).