Mutation and expression studies have implicated the Wnt gene family in early developmental decision making in vertebrates and flies. In a detailed comparative analysis, we have used in situ hybridization of 8.0- to 9.5-day mouse embryos to characterize expression of all ten published Wnt genes in the central nervous system (CNS) and limb buds. Seven of the family members show restricted express...

At least six members of the Wnt gene family are expressed in the murine mammary gland during growth and differentiation, whereas several other Wnt family members participate in malignant transformation of this tissue. We have used the C57mg mammary cell line, which naturally expresses the Wnt-4 and Wnt-5a genes, to examine Wnt gene expression during proliferation. The data show that the growth ...

Several lines of evidence suggest that Wnt genes play a critical role in regulating development of the vertebrate embryo. To address the role that this family may play in the development of the chicken central nervous system (CNS), we have used a PCR based strategy to clone partial sequences for Wnt genes. At least six different Wnt genes are expressed in the developing CNS of the chick embryo....

The mouse Wnt family includes at least 10 genes that encode structurally related secreted glycoproteins. Wnt-1 and Wnt-3 were originally identified as oncogenes activated by the insertion of mouse mammary tumor virus in virus-induced mammary adenocarcinomas, although they are not expressed in the normal mammary gland. However, five other Wnt genes are differentially expressed during development...

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare but highly aggressive cancer with limited treatment options and poor survival for patients advanced disease. An improved understanding of the transcriptional programs engaged in ACC will help direct rational, targeted therapies. Whereas activating mutations Wnt/β-catenin signaling are frequently observed, β-catenin-dependent targets that promote tumor pr...

Wnt-5a is a non-transforming Wnt protein. Since Wnt-5a mRNA and protein levels differ within and between tumours, the potential of Wnt-5a as a prognostic factor has been debated. We have previously shown that the lack of Wnt-5a protein is a predictor of shorter disease-free survival in human breast cancer. Recently, however, we also showed that the breast tumours lacking Wnt-5a protein had a hi...

Wnt-5a is a representative ligand that activates a beta-catenin-independent pathway in Wnt signalling. In the present paper, the roles of the post-translational modifications in the actions of Wnt-5a were investigated. We found that Wnt-5a is modified with palmitate at Cys104 and glycans at Asn114, Asn120, Asn311 and Asn325. The palmitoylation was not essential for the secretion of Wnt-5a, but ...

The Wnt gene family encodes a group of cysteine-rich proteins implicated in intercellular signaling during several stages of vertebrate development. This family includes Wnt-1 and Wnt-3, both discovered as activated oncogenes in mouse mammary tumors. Here we describe the molecular cloning of an additional member of the Wnt family, called Wnt-3A, and the spatial and temporal expression pattern o...