Ryk: Another Heretical Wnt Receptor Defies the Canon

Benjamin N. R. Cheyette^*

Nina Ireland Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, and Center for Neurobiology and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143–2611, USA.

Abstract: The number of proteins that serve as Wnt receptors is growing, and Ryk is one of the newest members of this group. Understanding how extracellular Wnt ligands interact with transmembrane receptors to activate intracellular signaling cascades is of broad importance to biology and to human disease because of the roles for Wnt in embryogenesis, cancer, and neural development and plasticity. The functions and properties of Ryk, a receptor tyrosine kinase–like protein, in canonical and noncanonical Wnt signaling are beginning to be uncovered. Biochemical and genetic studies reveal that the extracellular regions of Ryk and Fz can form a mutual ligand-binding domain. It remains to be seen whether Ryk can form similar complexes with other Wnt-binding proteins. If divergent transmembrane proteins can combine interchangeably to form heteromeric Wnt receptor complexes, then a stunning diversity of signaling responses might be mediated through differential expression and localization of these proteins in target cells.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: bc{at}lppi.ucsf.edu

The editors suggest the following Related Resources on Science sites:

In Science Signaling

PRESENTATIONS
Neuroscience
Wnt-Induced Calcium Signaling Mediates Axon Growth and Guidance in the Developing Corpus Callosum

B. Ian Hutchins, Li Li, and Katherine Kalil (10 January 2012)
Sci. Signal. 5 (206), pt1. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2002523]
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »  |  Slideshow »

PRESENTATIONS
Neuroscience
Wnt5a Induces Simultaneous Cortical Axon Outgrowth and Repulsive Turning Through Distinct Signaling Mechanisms

Li Li, B. Ian Hutchins, and Katherine Kalil (9 November 2010)
Sci. Signal. 3 (147), pt2. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.3147pt2]
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »  |  Slideshow »

EDITORS' CHOICE
Wnt Signaling
Process of Differentiation

John F. Foley (18 November 2008)
Sci. Signal. 1 (46), ec393. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.146ec393]
 |  Abstract »

REVIEWS
Cell Biology
Alternative Wnt Signaling Is Initiated by Distinct Receptors

Renée van Amerongen, Amanda Mikels, and Roel Nusse (2 September 2008)
Sci. Signal. 1 (35), re9. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.135re9]
 |  Gloss »  |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

EDITORS' CHOICE
Neuronal Migration
Src Family Kinase for Wnt5 Signaling

Nancy R. Gough (17 June 2008)
Sci. Signal. 1 (24), ec223. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.124ec223]
 |  Abstract »

DATABASE OF CELL SIGNALING
Wnt/beta-catenin Pathway

Randall T. Moon
Sci. Signal. (Connections Map Pathway), http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/cm/stkecm;CMP_5533
 |  Overview »  |  Canonical Pathway »  |  Molecular Fat Switch »  |  Wnt Signaling Animations »  |  Human Diseases Table »