Axis formation--beta-catenin catches a Wnt.
In this issue of Cell, the Heasman group implicates Wnt11 as a component of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway that specifies Xenopus laevis axis formation (Tao et al., 2005). This important work not only identifies a long-sought-after dorsalizing factor but also highlights the pivotal role of extracellular cofactors in specifying the activation of either canonical or noncanonical Wnt pathways.
Jessen
Jason R
JR
Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, USA.
Solnica-Krezel
Lila
L
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin
C495266:CTNNB1 protein, Xenopus; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; C512785:wnt11b protein, Xenopus