Wnt Signaling in Development

by Michael Kïhl (Editor)

Overview

Wnt genes code for a family of secreted glycoproteins which fulfil important functions during the development of vertebrates and invertebrates. Wnts regulate as different aspects as differentiation, proliferation, cell migration, and cell polarity. Wnt proteins are able to activate different intracellular signaling cascades.

This book describes different aspects of Wnt signaling during development of different species like the mouse, Xenopus, chicken, C. elegans or Drosophila and in different cellular contexts like heart formation or limb bud patterning. By doing such, this book provides, for the first time in printed form, an overview of the function of Wnt proteins during development.

This book will be of interest to all professionals in the field of Wnt signaling, signal transduction or animal development.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780306478383
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	10/31/2003
Series:	Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit
Edition description:	2003
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.04(d)

Table of Contents

	Preface	xii
1.	Wnt Signal Transduction Pathways: An Overview	1
	Abstract	1
	Introduction	1
	Wnt/[beta]-Catenin Signaling	4
	The Wnt/Ca[superscript 2+] Pathway in Vertebrates	8
	Planar Cell Polarity Signaling, or the Wnt/JNK Pathway	8
	Outlook	9
2.	Secreted Antagonists/Modulators of Wnt Signaling	15
	Abstract	15
	Introduction	15
	Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein (sFRPs)	16
	Domain Structure of sFRP	16
	Mechanism of Wnt Signaling Modulation	19
	Expression and Function of sFRP	20
	Wnt-Inhibitory Factor-1 (WIF-1)	20
	Cerberus	21
	Dickkopf	23
	Wingful/Notum in Drosophila	28
	Conclusion	30
3.	Wnt/Wingless Signaling in Drosophila	35
	Abstract	35
	Introduction	35
	The Wg Pathway	36
	Specificity in Wg Signaling	40
	Does Wg Always Act as a Morphogen?	42
	D WNT-4 Controls Cell Movement through a Unique Signaling Pathway	42
4.	Wnt Signaling and the Establishment of the Dorsal-Ventral Axis in Xenopus	47
	Abstract	47
	Introduction	47
	Cortical Rotation and Establishment of Asymmetry Along the Dorsal-Ventral Axis	48
	Roles of Wnt and Frizzled in the Specification of Dorsal Cell Fates	51
	Transport and Asymmetric Accumulation of Dishevelled	54
	Stabilization of [beta]-Catenin on the Dorsal Side of the Embryo	56
	[beta]-Catenin, XTCF-3, and Activation of Dorsal-Specific Gene Expression	58
	The Destruction Complex and Ventral Inhibition of Wnt Signaling	59
	Ventral Repression of Dorsal-Specific Genes	62
	Ventral Inhibition of WNT/[beta]-Catenin Signaling by the Wnt/Ca[superscript 2+] Pathway	62
	Other Potential Regulators of WNT Signaling during Axis Formation	63
	A Working Model for the Function of Wnt Signaling in the Patterning of the Dorsal-Ventral Axis in Xenopus	63
	Major Unresolved Issues	65
5.	The Role of WNT Signaling in Vertebrate Head Induction and the Organizer-Gradient Model Dualism	71
	Abstract	71
	Introduction	71
	The Vertebrate Organizer	72
	Classical Models for Anteroposterior Axis Formation	72
	Wnt/[beta]-Catenin Signaling Antagonizes the Vertebrate Head Organizer	74
	Tissues with Posteriorizing Activity Express WNTs	75
	The Two Inhibitor Model for Head Induction	75
	Anterior Organizing Centers Express WNT Inhibitors	79
	A Transforming Gradient of Wnt/[beta]-Catenin Activity Regulates AP Neural Patterning	80
	Wnt Signaling and Gastrulation Movements	81
	Later Roles of WNTs	81
	Conclusions and Outlook	82
6.	Epithelial Planar Cell Polarity in Drosophila	90
	Abstract	90
	Epithelial Planar Cell Polarity	90
	Planar Cell Polarity in Drosophila	91
	Wnt/Frizzled Signaling and Planar Cell Polarity Establishment	92
	Frizzled Signaling and Its Link to the Other PCP Genes	95
	Tissue Specific Responses to PCP Signaling	97
	General and Evolutionary Implications	99
7.	Patterning the Vertebrate Neural Plate by Wnt Signaling	102
	Summary	102
	Introduction	102
	Induction of the Neural Plate	104
	Anteroposterior Patterning of the Neural Plate	106
	Dorsoventral Patterning of the Neuroepithelium	107
	Neural Crest Induction and Diversification	109
	Neural Crest Apoptosis	111
	Conclusions	112
8.	Wnts in Kidney and Genital Development	117
	Abstract	117
	Introduction	117
	Kidney Development in the Mouse	118
	Role of Wnt Genes in Metanephric Kidney Development	122
	Wnt Signaling during Kidney Development--Perspectives from Studies in Alternative Vertebrate Models	126
	Pro- and Mesonephric Kidneys as Simplified Models of Nephrogenesis	127
	Wnt Signaling in the Pro- and Mesonephric Kidneys	129
	Wnts in Kidney Organogenesis: Conclusions from a Multi-Species Approach	131
	Genital Development in the Mouse	133
	Role of Wnt Genes in Genital Development	136
	Sexy Wnts: Losing Them Makes a Difference	139
	A Wnty but Promising Future	140
9.	Wnts in Muscle Development	146
	Abstract	146
	Introduction	146
	Epithelialization of Paraxial Mesoderm and Somite Formation	147
	Formation, Maintenance, and Patterning of the Dermomyotome	147
	Epaxial Myogenesis	149
	Hypaxial Myogenesis	151
	Concluding Remarks	152
10.	Wnt Signaling in Limb Development	156
	Introduction	156
	A Role for Wnt Signaling in Limb Bud Initiation	157
	Wnt Signaling and Limb Bud Outgrowth	159
	Limb Bud Patterning--A Role for Wnt Signaling in Establishing the Dorso-Ventral Axis and Beyond	160
	Roles of Wnt Signaling in Appendicular Skeletogenesis	162
11.	Wnt/Wg and Heart Development	170
	Abstract	170
	Introduction to Drosophila Cardiogenesis	170
	Wg Signaling in Drosophila Cardiogenesis	172
	Introduction to Vertebrate Cardiogenesis	173
	Wnt Signaling in Vertebrate Cardiogenesis	175
	Vertebrate Cardiogenesis Involves Different Wnt Signal Transduction Cascades	176
	Conclusion and Future Perspectives	179
12.	Wnt Signaling in C. elegans	184
	Abstract	184
	Introduction	184
	Catalog of C. elegans Wnt Pathway Components	184
	The Three C. elegans [beta]-Catenins Are Involved in Distinct Processes	187
	A Canonical Wnt Pathway Controls the Migration of the Descendants of the QL Neuroblast	188
	Embryonic Endoderm Introduction	190
	Unusual Aspects of Wnt Signaling during Endoderm Induction	191
	Wnt Signaling Might Directly Target the Cytoskeleton to Control Mitotic Spindle Orientation	192
	Wnt and Ras Pathways Control P12 Cell Fate	193
	Wnt Signaling in Vulval Development	194
	An Unusual Wnt Pathway Controls T Cell Polarity	197
	Gonad Polarity	200
	Wnt Pathways Might Interact to Control V5 Cell Polarity	202
	Sensory Ray Formation	203
	Themes and Remaining Questions in Worm Wnt Signaling	205
13.	The Wnt Gene Family and the Evolutionary Conservation of Wnt Expression	210
	Abstract	210
	Introduction	210
	Recent Phylogenetic Analyses Fail to Resolve the Evolutionary History of the Wnt Gene Family	211
	The Role of Wnt Genes in Establishing the Early Anteroposterior Axis in Deuterostomes	212
	Echinoderms and Hemichordates	213
	Ascidians	215
	Amphioxus	216
	Vertebrates	218
	Evolutionary Conservation of Wnt Gene Involvement in Axial Patterning of Protostomes, Deuterostomes, and Cnidarians	221
	Wnt Genes and Body Elongation from the Chordate Tail Bud	222
	Conservation of Wnt Signaling in the Paraxial Mesoderm in Amphioxus and Vertebrates	223
	The Roles of Wnt Genes in Patterning the Chordate Notochord	225
	Is There an Evolutionary Conservation of Wnt Signaling in Segmentation between Chordates and Protostomes?	225
	Evolutionary Conservation of the Roles of Wnt Genes in Convergent Extension and Planar Polarity Signaling	226
	The Involvement of Wnt Genes in Patterning the Developing Central Nervous System	227
	Conclusions	228
14.	Wnt Signaling and Cell Migration	240
	Abstract	240
	Introduction	240
	Wnt/Ca[superscript 2+]-Signaling Blocks Convergent Extension Movement	243
	Wnt Signals Influence the Migrational Behavior of Myocytes	247
	Perspectives	248
15.	GSK3-Signal Regulation of Pattern Formation in Dictyostelium: Wnt-Like Pathways during Non-Canonical Multicellular Development	251
	Abstract	251
	Introduction	251
	Antagonistic Regulation of Cell Fate Determination in Dictyostelium by the 7-Transmembrane cAMP Receptors CAR3 and CAR4	252
	GSK3, a Developmental Switch Regulating Anterior/Posterior Axis Formation	253
	ZAK1 and PTPase Regulate Tyrosine Phosphorylation and Activity of GSK3	254
	Downstream Targets of GSK3 Aar ([beta]-Catenin)	256
	Perspectives--Integrating Tyrosine Phosphorylation with Other Signaling Components	258
	Index	263