The Wnt Homepage (original) (raw)

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Acting as signals between cells, Wnt proteins regulate the proliferation of cells. Wnt signals are active in numerous contexts, during early development and later during the growth and maintenance of various tissues. In comparison to other growth factors, Wnt signals have several unique properties, including a short range of action. Thereby, Wnts predominantly mediate signaling locally, between neighboring cells. In addition, Wnt signals give shape to tissues as cells are proliferating. This is a consequence of the ability of Wnt signaling to confer polarity and asymmetry to cells. Wnt proteins are highly conserved in evolution and are active in every branch of the animal kingdom.

Wnt signaling is often implicated in stem cell control, as a proliferative and self-renewal signal. Mutations in Wnt genes or Wnt pathway components lead to specific developmental defects, while various human diseases, including cancer, are caused by abnormal Wnt signaling.

Insights into the mechanisms of Wnt action have emerged from several systems: genetics in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans; biochemistry in cell culture and ectopic gene expression in Xenopus embryos. As currently understood, Wnt proteins bind to receptors of the Frizzled and LRP families on the cell surface. Through several cytoplasmic relay components, the signal is transduced to ß-catenin, which enters the nucleus and forms a complex with TCF to activate transcription of Wnt target genes.

This website serves as a resource for members of the Wnt community, providing information on progress in the field, maps on signaling pathways, and methods. The page on reagents lists many resources generously made available to and by the Wnt community.

Wnt proteins and genes	Frizzled, SFRP	Wnt Meetings
Wnt proteinsMouse Human Xenopus Zebrafish DrosophilaSyntenic linkage Gene Expression sites	Frizzleds in Mammals Frizzleds in Drosophila, C. Elegans Multiple Wnt receptorsSFRP/FrzB genes Frp Alignment	Wnt meetingsGordon Research Conference: Wnt Signaling Mechanisms, Biology and Therapy, June 22 - 27, 2025
Dsh/TCF/APC/Axin	Other receptors/LRP	Wnt reviews
TCF/Lef Dsh/Dvl APC Axin	LRP/arrow Multiple Wnt receptors, GPR 124 and RECK	reviews on Wnt signalingreviews on the history of the field
β-catenin	New: Structures of Wnt Signaling Components	Other genes
β-catenin/armadillo Mutations in cancer β-catenin partners in development lineages	Structures	DickkopfGSK3 Porcupine WntlessRspondins and LGRsNotumNorrin
Wnt Target genes	Diseases/Other systems	Methods, Reagents
List genes (table) Feedback target genes (Wnt components)Expression profilingGene Expression sites	Wnt signaling in human diseasesWnt signaling in cancerEvolutionary origin Wnt components Wnt signaling in C. elegansStem cells and Wnt signaling	Where to obtain reagentsHow to detect and activate Wnt signalingHow to inhibit Wnt signalingIsolation of Wnt proteinIn Vitro assays Porcupine acyltransferase activityReporters to visualize Wnt signaling in animals Various older assays for Wnt signalsSmall molecules in Wnt signaling

Diagrams of Wnt signaling events

Wnt signaling (overview)	Wnt secretion	Wnt receptors	The destruction complex	Nuclear events	Wnt signaling in cancer	Protein interactions

Have a question about Wnt? Consult the Wnt community on LinkedIn®!