R&D Systems Recombinant Human Wnt-3a Protein (10 UG) Item ID: RDS5036WN010

Wnt-3a is one of 19 vertebrate members of the Wingless-type MMTV integration site (Wnt) family of highly conserved cysteine-rich secreted glycoproteins important for normal developmental processes (1). Wnts bind to the cell surface Frizzled family receptors in conjunction with low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein family receptors (LRP5 or 6) resulting in the stabilization of intracellular beta -catenin levels (2). As intracellular beta -catenin levels rise, beta -catenin binds to TCF/LEF transcription factors leading to expression of Wnt target genes (3). Endo-IWR 1 (Catalog # 3532, # PSM1324) is a cell-permeant small molecule inhibitor of Axin turnover that suppresses Wnt signal transduction by stabilizing the beta -catenin destruction complex (4). Wnt-3a is a 44 kDa secreted hydrophobic glycoprotein containing a conserved pattern of 24 cysteine residues (5). Wnt-3a has two N-linked glycosylation sites (Asn 87, Asn 298), and Ser 209 is modified with palmitoleic acid (6). Glycosylation and acylation are essential for efficient Wnt secretion and biological activity, respectively (6, 7). Human Wnt-3a shares 96% amino acid (aa) identity with mouse mouse, bovine and canine Wnt-3a, and 89%, 86% and 84% aa identity with chicken, Xenopus and zebrafish Wnt-3a, respectively. It also shares 87% aa identity with Wnt3. During embryonic development, Wnt-3a is necessary for proper development of the hippocampus, anterior-posterior patterning, somite development, and tailbud formation (9-12). Wnt-3a also promotes self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells, neural stem cells, and embryonic stem cells (13, 14).