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Science 6 December 2002:
Vol. 298. no. 5600, p. 1843
DOI: 10.1126/science.298.5600.1843l
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This Week in Science
Wnts are signaling molecules with critical roles in development that act though a receptor called Frizzled. Although Frizzled proteins resemble heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptors, Wnt signaling is best understood in cases where Wnts control transcription through a b-catenin-dependent signaling mechanism. Ahumada et al. (p. 2006) describe a different mechanism for Wnt signaling in which the rat Frizzled-2 protein appears to be coupled to the G protein transducin, better known for its central role in signaling in visual tissues that respond to light. In cultured cells, activation of transducin was required for Wnt-dependent activation of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent phosphodiesterase, as well as subsequent decreases in the intracellular concentration of cGMP and increased release of calcium from intracellular stores. Wnt signaling during zebrafish gastrulation could be inhibited when phosphodiesterase activity was reduced after application of pharmacological inhibitors.
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)
