Recombinant Human Wnt-1

Wnt-1 is a secreted protein that signals through the Frizzled family of cell surface receptors, and is required for normal embryonic development. Wnt-1 activation induces a complex signaling cascade that ultimately leads to the increased expression of over fifty genes. An important component of Wnt-1 signaling is the stabilization, and resulting accumulation, of the intracellular signaling protein, β-catenin. Wnt signaling induces and maintains the transformed phenotype, and, in certain embryonic cell lines, supports self-renewal in the absence of significant differentiation. Elevated levels of Wnt proteins are associated with tumorigenesis, and are present in numerous human breast cancers. Mature human Wnt-1 is a glycosylated protein containing 343 amino acid residues. Recombinant Human Wnt-1 is a 38.4 kDa, non-glycosylated protein containing 343 amino acid residues.