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Werner J, Boonekamp KE, Zhan T, Boutros M. The Roles of Secreted Wnt Ligands in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:5349. [PMID: 36982422 PMCID: PMC10049518 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt ligands are secreted signaling proteins that display a wide range of biological effects. They play key roles in stimulating Wnt signaling pathways to facilitate processes such as tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Dysregulation of Wnt signaling is a hallmark of many cancers and genetic alterations in various Wnt signaling components, which result in ligand-independent or ligand-dependent hyperactivation of the pathway that have been identified. Recently, research is focusing on the impact of Wnt signaling on the interaction between tumor cells and their micro-environment. This Wnt-mediated crosstalk can act either in a tumor promoting or suppressing fashion. In this review, we comprehensively outline the function of Wnt ligands in different tumor entities and their impact on key phenotypes, including cancer stemness, drug resistance, metastasis, and immune evasion. Lastly, we elaborate approaches to target Wnt ligands in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Werner
- Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kim E. Boonekamp
- Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tianzuo Zhan
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim University Hospital, Heidelberg University, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany;
- Mannheim Cancer Center, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
- DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Mannheim, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael Boutros
- Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Mannheim, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
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Veerapathiran S, Teh C, Zhu S, Kartigayen I, Korzh V, Matsudaira PT, Wohland T. Wnt3 distribution in the zebrafish brain is determined by expression, diffusion and multiple molecular interactions. eLife 2020; 9:e59489. [PMID: 33236989 PMCID: PMC7725503 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt3 proteins are lipidated and glycosylated signaling molecules that play an important role in zebrafish neural patterning and brain development. However, the transport mechanism of lipid-modified Wnts through the hydrophilic extracellular environment for long-range action remains unresolved. Here we determine how Wnt3 accomplishes long-range distribution in the zebrafish brain. First, we characterize the Wnt3-producing source and Wnt3-receiving target regions. Subsequently, we analyze Wnt3 mobility at different length scales by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. We demonstrate that Wnt3 spreads extracellularly and interacts with heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG). We then determine the binding affinity of Wnt3 to its receptor, Frizzled1 (Fzd1), using fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy and show that the co-receptor, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (Lrp5), is required for Wnt3-Fzd1 interaction. Our results are consistent with the extracellular distribution of Wnt3 by a diffusive mechanism that is modified by tissue morphology, interactions with HSPG, and Lrp5-mediated receptor binding, to regulate zebrafish brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sapthaswaran Veerapathiran
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Center for BioImaging Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Cathleen Teh
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Center for BioImaging Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Shiwen Zhu
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Center for BioImaging Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Indira Kartigayen
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Center for BioImaging Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Vladimir Korzh
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in WarsawWarsawPoland
| | - Paul T Matsudaira
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Center for BioImaging Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Thorsten Wohland
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Center for BioImaging Sciences, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Department of Chemistry, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
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Abstract
Wnt proteins are secreted glycoproteins that regulate multiple processes crucial to the development and tissue homeostasis of multicellular organisms, including tissue patterning, proliferation, cell fate specification, cell polarity and migration. To elicit these effects, Wnts act as autocrine as well as paracrine signalling molecules between Wnt-producing and Wnt-receiving cells. More than 40 years after the discovery of the Wg/Wnt pathway, it is still unclear how they are transported to fulfil their paracrine signalling functions. Several mechanisms have been proposed to mediate intercellular Wnt transport, including Wnt-binding proteins, lipoproteins, exosomes and cytonemes. In this Review, we describe the evidence for each proposed mechanism, and discuss how they may contribute to Wnt dispersal in tissue-specific and context-dependent manners, to regulate embryonic development precisely and maintain the internal steady state within a defined tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Routledge
- Living Systems Institute, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Steffen Scholpp
- Living Systems Institute, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
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Abstract
Wnt signaling regulates physiological processes ranging from cell differentiation to bone formation. Dysregulation of Wnt signaling is linked to several human ailments, including colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancers. As such, modulation of this pathway has been an attractive strategy for therapeutic development of anticancer agents. Since the discovery of Wnt proteins more than 35 years ago, research efforts continue to focus on understanding the biochemistry of their molecular interactions and their biological functions. Wnt is a secreted glycoprotein covalently modified with a cis-unsaturated fatty acyl group at a conserved serine residue, and this modification is required for Wnt secretion and activity. To initiate signaling, Wnt proteins bind to cell-surface Frizzled (FZD) receptors, but the molecular basis for recognition of Wnt's fatty acyl moiety by the extracellular cysteine-rich domain of FZD has become clear only very recently. Here, we review the most recent developments in the field, focusing on structural and biochemical studies of the FZD receptor family and highlighting new insights into their molecular arrangement and mode of regulation by cis-unsaturated fatty acids. Additionally, we examine how other lipid-binding proteins recognize fatty acyl chains on Wnt proteins in the regulation of Wnt secretion and activities. Altogether, this perspective expands our understanding of fatty acid–protein interactions in the FZD system and provides a basis for guiding future research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron H Nile
- From the Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, California 94080
| | - Rami N Hannoush
- From the Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, California 94080
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Hosseini V, Dani C, Geranmayeh MH, Mohammadzadeh F, Nazari Soltan Ahmad S, Darabi M. Wnt lipidation: Roles in trafficking, modulation, and function. J Cell Physiol 2018; 234:8040-8054. [PMID: 30341908 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway consists of various downstream target proteins that have substantial roles in mammalian cell proliferation, differentiation, and development. Its aberrant activity can lead to uncontrolled proliferation and tumorigenesis. The posttranslational connection of fatty acyl chains to Wnt proteins provides the unique capacity for regulation of Wnt activity. In spite of the past belief that Wnt molecules are subject to dual acylation, it has been shown that these proteins have only one acylation site and undergo monounsaturated fatty acylation. The Wnt monounsaturated fatty acyl chain is more than just a hydrophobic coating and appears to be critical for Wnt signaling, transport, and receptor activation. Here, we provide an overview of recent findings in Wnt monounsaturated fatty acylation and the mechanism by which this lipid moiety regulates Wnt activity from the site of production to its receptor interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Hosseini
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Hossein Geranmayeh
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mohammadzadeh
- Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Masoud Darabi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, iBV, Nice, France
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