title: Wnt-frizzled interactions in Xenopus.
abstract: The Wnt signaling cascades are regulatory modules which are involved in embryonic patterning, cell differentiation, morphogenesis, and diseases. The Wnt pathways are activated when secreted Wnt ligands interact with 7-trans-membrane receptors of the Frizzled (Fz) family. Specific readouts are determined by the ligand/receptor combinations and the cellular context. Here we describe two methods for the analysis of Wnt/Frizzled interactions in Xenopus embryos. Physical interaction of ligand and receptor are demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation assays. The activation of Wnt targets in Xenopus animal cap tissue provides a versatile test system for activating and inhibitory components of the Wnt/beta -catenin pathway.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Steinbeisser
authors.forename: Rajeeb K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Swain
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D051157:Frizzled Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051157:Frizzled Receptors; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins