Dickkopf-1 is a member of a new family of secreted proteins and functions in head induction.
The Spemann organizer in amphibian embryos is a tissue with potent head-inducing activity, the molecular nature of which is unresolved. Here we describe dickkopf-1 (dkk-1), which encodes Dkk-1, a secreted inducer of Spemann's organizer in Xenopus and a member of a new protein family. Injections of mRNA and antibody indicate that dkk-1 is sufficient and necessary to cause head induction. dkk-1 s a potent antagonist of Wnt signalling, suggesting that dkk genes encode a family of secreted Wnt inhibitors.
Glinka
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A
Division of Molecular Embryology, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany.
Wu
W
W
Delius
H
H
Monaghan
A P
AP
Blumenstock
C
C
Niehrs
C
C
D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D047108:Embryonic Development; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D006257:Head / Q000196:embryology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D014981:Xenopus; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C110182:dkk1 protein, Xenopus; C501128:dkk1b protein, zebrafish