A new member of the frizzled family from Drosophila functions as a Wingless receptor

Nature. 1996 Jul 18;382(6588):225-30. doi: 10.1038/382225a0.

Abstract

Receptors for Wingless and other signalling molecules of the Wnt gene family have yet to be identified. We show here that cultured Drosophila cells transfected with a novel member of the frizzled gene family in Drosophila, Dfz2, respond to added Wingless protein by elevating the level of the Armadillo protein. Moreover, Wingless binds to Drosophila or human cells expressing Dfz2. These data demonstrate that Dfz2 functions as a Wingless receptor, and they imply, in general, that Frizzled proteins are receptors for the Wnt signalling molecules.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Armadillo Domain Proteins
  • Cell Line
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Dishevelled Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
  • Female
  • Frizzled Receptors
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, Insect
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phosphoproteins*
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Receptors, Neurotransmitter*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Signal Transduction
  • Trans-Activators*
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transfection
  • Wnt1 Protein

Substances

  • ARM protein, Drosophila
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Armadillo Domain Proteins
  • Dishevelled Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Frizzled Receptors
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Receptors, Neurotransmitter
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Wnt1 Protein
  • fz2 protein, Drosophila
  • wg protein, Drosophila
  • RNA

Associated data

  • GENBANK/U65589