WNT5A

Protein Wnt-5a is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT5A gene.

The WNT gene family consists of structurally related genes that encode secreted signaling lipid modified glycoproteins. These proteins have been implicated in oncogenesis and in several developmental processes, including regulation of cell fate and patterning during embryogenesis. This gene is a member of the WNT gene family. The WNT5A is highly expressed in the dermal papilla of depilated skin. It encodes a protein showing 98%, 98%, and 87% amino acid identity to the mouse, rat and the xenopus Wnt5A protein, respectively. The experiments performed in Xenopus laevis embryos identified that human frizzled-5 (hFz5) is the receptor for the Wnt5A ligand and the Wnt5A/hFz5 signaling mediates axis induction.

The Wnt5a gene is also a key component in posterior development of the female reproductive tract, development of the uterine glands postnatally, and the process of estrogen mediated cellular and molecular responses. Wnt5a is expressed throughout the endometrial stroma of the mammalian female reproductive tracts and is required in the development of the posterior formation of the Müllerian ducts (cervix, vagina). A Wnt5a absence study was performed by Mericskay et al. on mice and showed the anterior Müllerian-derived structures (oviducts and uterine horns) could easily be identified, and the posterior derived structures (cervix and vagina) were absent showing that this gene is a requirement for its development. Other members of the WNT family that are required for the development of the reproductive tract are Wnt4 and Wnt7a. Failure to develop reproductive tract will result in infertility. Not only is the Wnt5a gene responsible for this formation but also is significate in the postnatal production of the uterine glands otherwise known as adenogenesis which is essential for adult function. In addition to these two developments Wnt5a it needed for the complete process of estrogen mediated cellular and molecular responses.