Protein Wnt-3a is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT3A gene. [5]
The WNT gene family consists of structurally related genes that encode secreted signaling proteins. These proteins have are critical in tissue homeostasis, embryonic development, and disease.
WNT3A is highly related to the WNT3 gene in sequence and protein function. WNT3A and WNT3 signal similarly through primarily the beta-catenin/Tcf pathway. WNT3A is located in the genome beside the WNT9A gene across many vertebrates. Similarly, the WNT3 gene occurs in the genome beside the WNT9B gene. WNT9A and WNT9B signal through the beta-catenin/Tcf pathway but do not play related roles as WNT3A and WNT3 in the same cellular processes.
WNT3A is not linked to particular genetic disorder in humans. Mice that have a genetic mutation in the WNT3A die during early embryogenesis and fail to correctly form axial tissues. [6] Wnt-3a promotes the beta-catenin/Tcf pathway which is tumor inducing and can cause cancer when expressed in particular cell populations. [7]
Embryonic development is the process where the body plan is created. From studies in vertebrate model systems we can infer the roles of particular genes in human anatomical structures. Wnt3a plays a role in these processes:
Wnt3A patterns a multipotent stem cell population that form neurons, muscles, bones, and cartilage of the torso region. Wnt3a instructs these multipotent stems cells to form muscle, bone, and cartilage progenitors over forming neurons. [8] Wnt3A also regulates the Notch pathway to control the segmentation clock needed for normal torso development [9] [10]
Wnt3a is in a signaling pathway that activates the gene Nodal which is left side signaling determinant [11]
The colon portion of the gastrointestinal tract is completely dependent on Wnt3a and Wnt3a selectively causes the growth of colon progenitors [12]
Wnt3a expands neural crest cells during early development [13]
Wnt3a promotes hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal. Wnt3a is needed for myeloid but not B-lymphoid development at the progenitor level, and affected immature thymocyte differentiation [14]
Wnt3a is needed for formation of the hippocampus portion of the brain [15]
Wnt3a promotes stem cell properties of dental pulp stem cells [16]
In cellular biology, paracrine signaling is a form of cell signaling, a type of cellular communication in which a cell produces a signal to induce changes in nearby cells, altering the behaviour of those cells. Signaling molecules known as paracrine factors diffuse over a relatively short distance, as opposed to cell signaling by endocrine factors, hormones which travel considerably longer distances via the circulatory system; juxtacrine interactions; and autocrine signaling. Cells that produce paracrine factors secrete them into the immediate extracellular environment. Factors then travel to nearby cells in which the gradient of factor received determines the outcome. However, the exact distance that paracrine factors can travel is not certain.
The Wnt signaling pathways are a group of signal transduction pathways which begin with proteins that pass signals into a cell through cell surface receptors. The name Wnt is a portmanteau created from the names Wingless and Int-1. Wnt signaling pathways use either nearby cell-cell communication (paracrine) or same-cell communication (autocrine). They are highly evolutionarily conserved in animals, which means they are similar across animal species from fruit flies to humans.
Catenin beta-1, also known as β-catenin (beta-catenin), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CTNNB1 gene.
Transcription factor 7-like 2 , also known as TCF7L2 or TCF4, is a protein acting as a transcription factor that, in humans, is encoded by the TCF7L2 gene. The TCF7L2 gene is located on chromosome 10q25.2–q25.3, contains 19 exons. As a member of the TCF family, TCF7L2 can form a bipartite transcription factor and influence several biological pathways, including the Wnt signalling pathway.
Axin-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the AXIN1 gene.
Lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF1) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LEF1 gene. It's a member of T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) family.
Proto-oncogene Wnt-1, or Proto-oncogene Int-1 homolog is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT1 gene.
Dickkopf-related protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DKK1 gene.
Protein Wnt-5a is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT5A gene.
Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LRP6 gene. LRP6 is a key component of the LRP5/LRP6/Frizzled co-receptor group that is involved in canonical Wnt pathway.
Protein Wnt-7a is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT7A gene.
Transcription factor 7 is the gene that in humans encodes for the TCF1 protein.
ZIC3 is a member of the Zinc finger of the cerebellum (ZIC) protein family.
Proto-oncogene protein Wnt-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT3 gene.
Protein Wnt-10b is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT10B gene.
Protein Wnt-11 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT11 gene.
Protein Wnt-2b is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT2B gene.
Protein Wnt-9a is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT9A gene.
Wnt7b is a signaling protein that plays a crucial role for many developmental processes including placental, lung, eye, dendrite, and bone formation along with kidney development. The primary role of Wnt7b is to establish the cortico-medullary axis of epithelial organization.
The TCF/LEF family is a group of genes that encode transcription factors which bind to DNA through a SOX-like high mobility group domain. They are involved in the Wnt signaling pathway, particularly during embryonic and stem-cell development, but also had been found to play a role in cancer and diabetes. TCF/LEF factors recruit the coactivator beta-catenin to enhancer elements of genes they target. They can also recruit members of the Groucho family of corepressors.
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