title: Expression of GPR177 (Wntless/Evi/Sprinter), a highly conserved Wnt-transport protein, in rat tissues, zebrafish embryos, and cultured human cells.
abstract: GPR177 is an evolutionarily conserved transmembrane protein necessary for Wnt protein secretion. Little is currently known, however, regarding expression of GPR177, especially in vertebrate species. We have developed an antiserum against GPR177, and used it to examine expression of GPR177 in human tissue culture cells, adult mouse, and rat tissues, as well as developing zebrafish embryos. In rodents, GPR177 is expressed in virtually all tissue types and brain regions examined. In zebrafish, GPR177 polypeptides are expressed throughout embryogenesis, and are detectable as early as 1 hr post-fertilization. In situ hybridization analysis reveals that gpr177 mRNA expression is prominent in embryonic zebrafish brain and ear. Structural studies suggest that GPR177 is modified by N-linked sugars, and that the protein contains an even number of transmembrane segments. The relatively ubiquitous expression of GPR177 suggests that this protein may serve to regulate Wnt secretion in a variety of embryonic and adult tissue types.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petko
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levenson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C545200:Gpr177 protein, mouse; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C549111:WLS protein, human; C549112:Wls protein, rat; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C555405:wls protein, zebrafish