Stearoyl CoA Desaturase Is Required to Produce Active, Lipid-Modified Wnt Proteins Journal Article


Authors: Rios Esteves, J.; Resh, M. D.
Article Title: Stearoyl CoA Desaturase Is Required to Produce Active, Lipid-Modified Wnt Proteins
Abstract: Wnt proteins contain palmitoleic acid, an unusual lipid modification. Production of an active Wnt signal requires the acyltransferase Porcupine and depends on the attachment of palmitoleic acid to Wnt. The source of this monounsaturated fatty acid has not been identified, and it is not known how Porcupine recognizes its substrate and whether desaturation occurs before or after fatty acid transfer to Wnt. Here, we show that stearoyl desaturase (SCD) generates a monounsaturated fatty acid substrate that is then transferred by Porcupine to Wnt. Treatment of cells with SCD inhibitors blocked incorporation of palmitate analogs into Wnt3a and Wnt5a and reduced Wnt secretion as well as autocrine and paracrine Wnt signaling. The SCD inhibitor effects were rescued by exogenous addition of monounsaturated fatty acids. We propose that SCD is a key molecular player responsible for Wnt biogenesis and processing and that SCD inhibition provides an alternative mechanism for blocking Wnt pathway activation. © 2013 The Authors.
Journal Title: Cell Reports
Volume: 4
Issue: 6
ISSN: 2211-1247
Publisher: Cell Press  
Date Published: 2013-09-26
Start Page: 1072
End Page: 1081
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2013.08.027
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 24055053
PMCID: PMC3845236
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 1 November 2013" - "Source: Scopus"
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Marilyn D Resh
    120 Resh
  2. Jessica Rios
    3 Rios