Wnt domain found in protein Wnt-9a and similar proteins
Wnt-9a, also called protein Wnt-14, functions in the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. It is required for normal timing of IHH expression during embryonic bone development, normal chondrocyte maturation and for normal bone mineralization during embryonic bone development. Wnt-9a plays a redundant role in maintaining joint integrity. It is a conserved regulator of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell development. Wnt genes have been identified in vertebrates and invertebrates, but not in plants, unicellular eukaryotes, or prokaryotes. In humans, 19 WNT proteins are known. Because of their insolubility little is known about Wnt protein structure, but all have 23 or 24 Cys residues whose spacing is highly conserved. Signal transduction by Wnt proteins (including the Wnt/beta-catenin, the Wnt/Ca++, and the Wnt/polarity pathway) is mediated by receptors of the Frizzled and LDL-receptor-related protein (LRP) families. The Wnt signaling mediated by Wnt proteins that orchestrate and influence a myriad of cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, tumorigenesis, apoptosis, and participation in immune defense during microbe infection.
Feature 1:Frizzled receptor binding site [polypeptide binding site]
Evidence:
Comment:The structure of Xenopus Wnt8 (XWnt8) in complex with mouse Frizzled-8 (Fz8) cysteine-rich domain (CRD) reveals an unusual two-domain Wnt structure, not obviously related to known protein folds, resembling a "hand" with "thumb" and "index" fingers extended to grasp the Fz8-CRD at two distinct binding sites.
Comment:Based on the structure of Xenopus laevis Wnt8 (4F0A) in complex with the cysteine-rich domain of frizzled 8.