title: Dictyostelium development: a prototypic Wnt pathway?
abstract: Although Wnt signaling is ubiquitous within the animal phylogenetic group, it is unclear how it evolved. Genes related to the components of Wnt pathway are found in other eukaryotes and one of the most studied of these non-metazoan organisms is the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. This organism contains the enzyme GSK-3 and a beta -catenin homolog, Aardvark (Aar). Both are required to regulate pattern formation during multi-cellular stages of Dictyostelium development. Aar is also required for formation of adherens junctions, as seen in animals. Finally, analysis of the completed Dictyostelium genome shows there to be 16 Frizzled (Fz) gene homologs. This chapter discusses Dictyostelium development and the role of these proteins.
authors.affiliation: Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Adrian J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Harwood
mesh_terms: D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000502:physiology*; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3