Wnt family proteins are secreted and associated with the cell surface.
Members of the Wnt gene family are proposed to function in both normal development and differentiation as well as in mammary tumorigenesis. To understand the function of Wnt proteins in these two processes, we present here a biochemical characterization of seven Wnt family members. For these studies, AtT-20 cells, a neuroendocrine cell line previously shown to efficiently process and secrete Wnt-1, was transfected with expression vectors encoding Wnt family members. All of the newly characterized Wnt proteins are glycosylated, secreted proteins that are tightly associated with the cell surface or extracellular matrix. We have also identified native Wnt proteins in retinoic acid-treated P19 embryonal carcinoma cells, and they exhibit the same biochemical characteristics as the recombinant proteins. These data suggest that Wnt family members function in cell to cell signaling in a fashion similar to Wnt-1.
Smolich
B D
BD
SUGEN, Redwood City, California 94063.
McMahon
J A
JA
McMahon
A P
AP
Papkoff
J
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D018236:Carcinoma, Embryonal / Q000473:pathology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006031:Glycosylation; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D051154:Wnt2 Protein; D060508:Wnt3 Protein; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D006023:Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; C495246:Wnt1 protein, mouse; D051154:Wnt2 Protein; D060508:Wnt3 Protein; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins