A member of the Frizzled protein family mediating axis induction by Wnt-5A.

Authors :: He X
Saint-Jeannet JP
Wang Y
Nathans J
Dawid I
Varmus H
Source :: Science (New York, N.Y.) [Science] 1997 Mar 14; Vol. 275 (5306), pp. 1652-4.
Publication Year :: 1997
Abstract: In Xenopus laevis embryos, the Wingless/Wnt-1 subclass of Wnt molecules induces axis duplication, whereas the Wnt-5A subclass does not. This difference could be explained by distinct signal transduction pathways or by a lack of one or more Wnt-5A receptors during axis formation. Wnt-5A induced axis duplication and an ectopic Spemann organizer in the presence of hFz5, a member of the Frizzled family of seven-transmembrane receptors. Wnt-5A/hFz5 signaling was antagonized by glycogen synthase kinase-3 and by the amino-terminal ectodomain of hFz5. These results identify hFz5 as a receptor for Wnt-5A.