title: Wnt acylation and its functional implication in Wnt signalling regulation.
abstract: Wnt proteins are conserved signalling molecules that have an essential role in regulating diverse processes during embryogenesis and adult tissue homoeostasis. Wnts are post-translationally modified by palmitoylation, which is essential for Wnt secretion and function. Intriguingly, the crystal structure of XWnt8 in complex with the extracellular domain of the Frizzled 8 cysteine-rich domain (Fzd8-CRD) revealed that Wnts use the fatty acid as a 'hotspot' residue to engage its receptor, which is a unique mode of receptor-ligand recognition. In addition, there are several lines of evidence suggesting that Wnts engage several signalling modulators and alternative receptors by means of fatty acids as a critical contact residue. In the present article, we review our current understanding of Wnt acylation and its functional role in Wnt signalling regulation.
authors: *Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, U.S.A.
authors: Claudia Y
authors: CY
authors: Janda
authors: *Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, U.S.A.
authors: K Christopher
authors: KC
authors: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000215:Acylation / Q000235:genetics; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D051157:Frizzled Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D054878:Lipoylation / Q000235:genetics*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D051157:Frizzled Receptors; C529739:Fzd8 protein, human; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C485569:WIF1 protein, human