Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Nkd1 is a negative feedback inhibitor of Wnt signaling known to antagonize Wnt signaling in the cytoplasm by inhibiting the nuclear accumulation of the central signaling component β-catenin. In this thesis, I test the hypothesis that Nkd1 needs to be activated by a Wnt ligand in order for proper function. By stimulating Wnt signaling by a Wnt ligand or a constitutively active receptor, I found that only in the presence of a Wnt ligand does the cellular distribution of Nkd1 change from large punctae to smaller punctae distributed throughout the cytoplasm. Moreover, only in the presence of a Wnt ligand does Nkd1 have the ability to antagonize Wnt signaling and block the nuclear accumulation of β-catenin. Taken together, my data suggests that Nkd1 function and localization are critically dependent on the presence of a Wnt ligand.
Author: Jahdiel Isaac Larraguibel
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2606133663