The postsynaptic density 95/disc-large/zona occludens protein syntenin directly interacts with frizzled 7 and supports noncanonical Wnt signaling

Mol Biol Cell. 2008 Apr;19(4):1594-604. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e07-08-0832. Epub 2008 Feb 6.

Abstract

Wnt signaling pathways are essential for embryonic patterning, and they are disturbed in a wide spectrum of diseases, including cancer. An unresolved question is how the different Wnt pathways are supported and regulated. We previously established that the postsynaptic density 95/disc-large/zona occludens (PDZ) protein syntenin binds to syndecans, Wnt coreceptors, and known stimulators of protein kinase C (PKC)alpha and CDC42 activity. Here, we show that syntenin also interacts with the C-terminal PDZ binding motif of several Frizzled Wnt receptors, without compromising the recruitment of Dishevelled, a key downstream Wnt-signaling component. Syntenin is coexpressed with cognate Frizzled during early development in Xenopus. Overexpression and down-regulation of syntenin disrupt convergent extension movements, supporting a role for syntenin in noncanonical Wnt signaling. Syntenin stimulates c-jun phosphorylation and modulates Frizzled 7 signaling, in particular the PKCalpha/CDC42 noncanonical Wnt signaling cascade. The syntenin-Frizzled 7 binding mode indicates syntenin can accommodate Frizzled 7-syndecan complexes. We propose that syntenin is a novel component of the Wnt signal transduction cascade and that it might function as a direct intracellular link between Frizzled and syndecans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Female
  • Frizzled Receptors / chemistry
  • Frizzled Receptors / genetics
  • Frizzled Receptors / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / metabolism
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / chemistry
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance
  • Syndecans / genetics
  • Syndecans / metabolism
  • Syntenins / chemistry
  • Syntenins / genetics
  • Syntenins / metabolism*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • Xenopus Proteins / chemistry
  • Xenopus Proteins / genetics
  • Xenopus Proteins / metabolism
  • Xenopus laevis

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • FZD7 protein, human
  • Frizzled Receptors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • Syndecans
  • Syntenins
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Xenopus Proteins