The WNT/calcium pathway: biochemical mediators, tools and future requirements

Front Biosci. 2004 Jan 1:9:967-74. doi: 10.2741/1307.

Abstract

Wnt proteins represent a family of secreted, lipid-modified glycoproteins that can activate different intracellular pathways. Upon binding to certain members of the Frizzled family of Wnt receptors some Wnts like Wnt-4, Wnt-5A or Wnt-11 are able to elicit an intracellular release of calcium ions. This calcium signaling acitivity is sufficient to activate calcium sensitive enzymes like protein kinase C (PKC), calcium-calmodulin dependent kinase II (CamKII) or calcineurin (CaCN). This so-called Wnt/calcium pathway plays important roles during dorso-ventral patterning of the embryo, regulating cell migration, as well as heart development, and might play a role during tumor suppression. The foci of this review are the biochemical aspects of Wnt/calcium signaling, the tools that are available to study Wnt/calcium signaling, and the open questions that need to be addressed in the future to validate this signaling pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcineurin / metabolism*
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Calpain / metabolism*
  • Forecasting
  • Humans
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Zebrafish Proteins*

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • Protein Kinase C
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Calcineurin
  • Calpain
  • Calcium