一个新的Wnt信号通路相关蛋白——Rspo3

Rspo3:a novel protein in the Wnt signaling pathway

Wnt信号通路是生物体中最重要的信号通路之一,其在胚胎和成体中控制细胞的增殖、分化以及形态发生。R-spondin（Rspo）家族是一个近年来新发现的蛋白家族,由4个分泌性蛋白Rspo1~4组成。Rspo蛋白家族成员均有两个富含半胱氨酸的furin-like结构域,一个TSP1结构域和一段富含碱性氨基酸的C端区域。已知Rspo蛋白与经典Wnt通路配体类似,在脊椎动物的发育过程中发挥重要的功能。Rspo通过激活和与Wnt配体等协同激活Wnt/β-catenin信号通路来参与调控细胞的增殖和分化,影响骨骼、肌肉、血管等组织的发育及肢体和性腺的形成。

Wnt signaling pathway is one of the key signaling pathways which control cell proliferation,differentiation,and morphogenesis during embryogenesis and in adults.The R-spondins（Rspos） is a recently reported protein family including 4 secreted proteins（Rspo1-4）.Rspos contains 2 furin-like cysteine-rich domains,a thrombospondin Type 1 repeat and a C-terminal region enriched with basic charged amino acids.Similar to Wnt ligands,Rspos play an essential role in the vertebrate development.They can induce and synergize with Wnt ligands to activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and participate in cell proliferation and differentiation,muscle development,bone formation,vasculogenesis,limb,and gonad morphogenesis.