Protein Wnt-9b (formerly Wnt15 [5] ) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT9B gene. [6]
The Wnt family of genes produce glycolipoproteins that are involved with signaling and developmental processes. Like other Wnt genes, Wnt-9b codes for the Wnt-9b protein which participates in the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Wnt-9b is a gene found on chromosome 17 in region 17q21. It can be traced to function in the establishment of the kidneys, because Wnt9 is critical for morphogenesis of the nephron. [7] This gene can impact kidney function in more than one way. Improper expression of the gene can cause cyst development on the kidney tubules, and in mice, mutant Wnt9 genes that cause lower protein concentrations resulted in failure of the kidneys to thrive shortly after birth. [8] Wnt-9b is a gene that often expressed in the epithelial cells of the Wolfian duct in early male and female embryos. In the embryos, Wnt11 is expressed at the branching points of the kidney tubules while Wnt-9b is expressed in a higher concentration at the stalk of the tubules. [9] Wnt-9b has also been tied to the involvement of neural differentiation by induction of retinoic acid, according to the NCBI. [10]
Intermediate mesoderm or intermediate mesenchyme is a narrow section of the mesoderm located between the paraxial mesoderm and the lateral plate of the developing embryo. The intermediate mesoderm develops into vital parts of the urogenital system.
Tyrosine-protein kinase transmembrane receptor ROR2, also known as neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor-related 2, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ROR2 gene located on position 9 of the long arm of chromosome 9. This protein is responsible for aspects of bone and cartilage growth. It is involved in Robinow syndrome and autosomal dominant brachydactyly type B. ROR2 is a member of the receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor (ROR) family.
Prickle is also known as REST/NRSF-interacting LIM domain protein, which is a putative nuclear translocation receptor. Prickle is part of the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway that establishes planar cell polarity. A gain or loss of function of Prickle1 causes defects in the convergent extension movements of gastrulation. In epithelial cells, Prickle2 establishes and maintains cell apical/basal polarity. Prickle1 plays an important role in the development of the nervous system by regulating the movement of nerve cells.
WNT4 is a secreted protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT4 gene, found on chromosome 1. It promotes female sex development and represses male sex development. Loss of function can have serious consequences, such as female to male sex reversal.
Neurogenic locus notch homolog 4(Notch 4) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NOTCH4 gene located on chromosome 6.
Frizzled-2(Fz-2) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FZD2 gene.
Frizzled-3(Fz-3) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FZD3 gene.
Segment polarity protein dishevelled homolog DVL-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DVL1 gene.
SCRIB, also known as Scribble, SCRIBL, or Scribbled homolog (Drosophila), is a scaffold protein which in humans is encoded by the SCRIB gene. It was originally isolated in Drosophila melanogaster in a pathway (also known as the Scribble complex) with DLGAP5 (Discs large) and LLGL1 (Lethal giant larvae) as a tumor suppressor. In humans, SCRIB is found as a membrane protein and is involved in cell migration, cell polarity, and cell proliferation in epithelial cells. There is also strong evidence that SCRIB may play a role in cancer progression because of its strong homology to the Drosophila protein.
Protein Wnt-7a is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT7A gene.
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-11 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT11 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.
Planar cell polarity (PCP) is the protein-mediated signaling that coordinates the orientation of cells in a layer of epithelial tissue. In vertebrates, examples of mature PCP oriented tissue are the stereo-cilia bundles in the inner ear, motile cilia of the epithelium, and cell motility in epidermal wound healing. Additionally, PCP is known to be crucial to major developmental time points including coordinating convergent extension during gastrulation and coordinating cell behavior for neural tube closure. Cells orient themselves and their neighbors by establishing asymmetric expression of PCP components on opposing cell members within cells to establish and maintain the directionality of the cells. Some of these PCP components are transmembrane proteins which can proliferate the orientation signal to the surrounding cells.
Forkhead box D1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FOXD1 gene. Forkhead d1 is a kidney expressed transcription factor maps at the chromosome 5 at position 5q12—q13, identified in Drosophila forkhead protein and mammalian HNF3 transcription factor. The name of was derived from two spiked head structures in the embryos of Drosophila forkhead mutant. It belong to transcription factor family that displays remarkable functional diversity and involved in a wide variety of biological processes. The most commonly used synonyms for Forkhead D1 are, FOX D1, FREAC-4 and BF2.
Prickle planar cell polarity protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PRICKLE1 gene.
Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells are a model mammalian cell line used in biomedical research. MDCK cells are used for a wide variety of cell biology studies including cell polarity, cell-cell adhesions, collective cell motility, toxicity studies, as well as responses to growth factors. It is one of few cell culture models that is suited for 3D cell culture and multicellular rearrangements known as branching morphogenesis.
VANGL planar cell polarity protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the VANGL2 gene.
Barry James Thompson is an Australian and British developmental biologist and cancer biologist. He is a professor of the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University in Canberra. Thompson is known for identifying genes, proteins and mechanisms involved in epithelial polarity, morphogenesis and cell signaling via the Wnt and Hippo signaling pathways, which have key roles in human cancer.