Wnt/β-catenin signalling: from plasma membrane to nucleus

Biochem J. 2013 Feb 15;450(1):9-21. doi: 10.1042/BJ20121284.

Abstract

Wnt/β-catenin signalling plays essential roles in embryonic development as well as tissue homoeostasis in adults. Thus abnormal regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling is linked to a variety of human diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease. Owing to the importance of Wnt signalling in a wide range of biological fields, a better understanding of its precise mechanisms could provide fundamental insights for therapeutic applications. Although many studies have investigated the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling, our knowledge remains insufficient due to the complexity and diversity of Wnt signalling. It is generally accepted that the identification of novel regulators and their functions is a prerequisite to fully elucidating the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling. Recently, several novel modulators of Wnt signalling have been determined through multiple genetic and proteomic approaches. In the present review, we discuss the mechanistic regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling by focusing on the roles of these novel regulators.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Dishevelled Proteins
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Dishevelled Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin