Reactome | WNT ligand biogenesis and trafficking

WNT ligand biogenesis and trafficking

Stable Identifier

R-HSA-3238698

Type

Pathway

Species

Homo sapiens

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19 WNT proteins have been identified in human cells. The WNTs are members of a conserved metazoan family of secreted morphogens that activate several signaling pathways in the responding cell: the canonical (beta-catenin) WNT signaling cascade and several non-canonical pathways, including the planar cell polarity (PCP), the regulation of intracellular calcium signaling and activation of JNK kinases. WNT proteins exist in a gradient outside the secreting cell and are able to act over both short and long ranges to promote proliferation, changes in cell migration and polarity and tissue homeostasis, among others (reviewed in Saito-Diaz et al, 2012; Willert and Nusse, 2012).

The WNTs are ~40kDa proteins with 23 conserved cysteine residues in the N-terminal that may form intramolecular disulphide bonds. They also contain an N-terminal signal sequence and a number of N-linked glycosylation sites (Janda et al, 2012). In addition to being glycosylated, WNTs are also lipid-modified in the endoplasmic reticulum by a WNT-specific O-acyl-transferase, Porcupine (PORCN), contributing to their characteristic hydrophobicity. PORCN-dependent palmitoylation is required for the secretion of WNT as well as its signaling activity, as either depletion of PORCN or mutation of the conserved serine acylation site results in the intracellular accumulation of WNT ligand (Takada et al, 2006; Barrott et al, 2011; Biechele et al, 2011; reviewed in Willert and Nusse, 2012).

Secretion of WNT requires a number of other dedicated factors including the sorting receptor Wntless (WLS) (also knownas Evi, Sprinter, and GPR177), which binds WNT and escorts it to the cell surface (Banziger et al, 2006; Bartscherer et al, 2006; Goodman et al, 2006). A WNT-specific retromer containing SNX3 is subsequently required for the recycling of WLS back to the Golgi (reviewed in Herr et al, 2012; Johannes and Wunder, 2011). Once at the cell surface, WNT makes extensive contacts with components of the extracellular matrix such as heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and may be bound by any of a number of regulatory proteins, including WIFs and SFRPs. The diffusion of the WNT ligand may be aided by its packing either into WNT multimers, exosomes or onto lipoprotein particles to shield the hydrophobic lipid adducts from the aqueous extracellular environment (Gross et al, 2012; Luga et al, 2012, Korkut et al, 2009; reviewed in Willert and Nusse, 2012).

Literature References

PubMed ID	Title	Journal	Year
17141155	Monounsaturated fatty acid modification of Wnt protein: its role in Wnt secretion Takada, R, Satomi, Y, Kurata, T, Ueno, N, Norioka, S, Kondoh, H, Takao, T, Takada, S	Dev. Cell	2006
21554866	Porcupine homolog is required for canonical Wnt signaling and gastrulation in mouse embryos Biechele, S, Cox, BJ, Rossant, J	Dev. Biol.	2011
23256519	The way Wnt works: Components and mechanism Saito-Diaz, K, Chen, TW, Wang, X, Thorne, CA, Wallace, HA, Page-McCaw, A, Lee, E	Growth Factors	2013
22653731	Structural basis of Wnt recognition by Frizzled Janda, CY, Waghray, D, Levin, AM, Thomas, C, Garcia, KC	Science	2012
23260141	Exosomes mediate stromal mobilization of autocrine Wnt-PCP signaling in breast cancer cell migration Luga, V, Zhang, L, Viloria-Petit, AM, Ogunjimi, AA, Inanlou, MR, Chiu, E, Buchanan, M, Hosein, AN, Basik, M, Wrana, JL	Cell	2012
17108000	Sprinter: a novel transmembrane protein required for Wg secretion and signaling Goodman, RM, Thombre, S, Firtina, Z, Gray, D, Betts, D, Roebuck, J, Spana, EP, Selva, EM	Development	2006
21725318	The SNXy flavours of endosomal sorting Johannes, L, Wunder, C	Nat. Cell Biol.	2011
22983114	Active Wnt proteins are secreted on exosomes Gross, JC, Chaudhary, V, Bartscherer, K, Boutros, M	Nat. Cell Biol.	2012
19837038	Trans-synaptic transmission of vesicular Wnt signals through Evi/Wntless Korkut, C, Ataman, B, Ramachandran, P, Ashley, J, Barria, R, Gherbesi, N, Budnik, V	Cell	2009
16678096	Secretion of Wnt ligands requires Evi, a conserved transmembrane protein Bartscherer, K, Pelte, N, Ingelfinger, D, Boutros, M	Cell	2006
22952392	Wnt proteins Willert, K, Nusse, R	Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol	2012
22796206	WNT secretion and signalling in human disease Herr, P, Hausmann, G, Basler, K	Trends Mol Med	2012
21768372	Deletion of mouse Porcn blocks Wnt ligand secretion and reveals an ectodermal etiology of human focal dermal hypoplasia/Goltz syndrome Barrott, JJ, Cash, GM, Smith, AP, Barrow, JR, Murtaugh, LC	Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.	2011
16678095	Wntless, a conserved membrane protein dedicated to the secretion of Wnt proteins from signaling cells Bänziger, C, Soldini, D, Schütt, C, Zipperlen, P, Hausmann, G, Basler, K	Cell	2006