Wnt signalling and its impact on development and cancer

Nat Rev Cancer. 2008 May;8(5):387-98. doi: 10.1038/nrc2389.

Abstract

The Wnt signalling pathway is an ancient system that has been highly conserved during evolution. It has a crucial role in the embryonic development of all animal species, in the regeneration of tissues in adult organisms and in many other processes. Mutations or deregulated expression of components of the Wnt pathway can induce disease, most importantly cancer. The first gene to be identified that encodes a Wnt signalling component, Int1 (integration 1), was molecularly characterized from mouse tumour cells 25 years ago. In parallel, the homologous gene Wingless in Drosophila melanogaster, which produces developmental defects in embryos, was characterized. Since then, further components of the Wnt pathway have been identified and their epistatic relationships have been defined. This article is a Timeline of crucial discoveries about the components and functions of this essential pathway.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Embryonic Development
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / history*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics
  • Wnt Proteins / history*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism
  • Wnt1 Protein / genetics
  • Wnt1 Protein / history
  • Wnt1 Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Wnt Proteins
  • Wnt1 Protein