WNT16 (Wingless-Type MMTV Integration Site Family Member 16) is a secreted signaling protein that plays essential roles in bone metabolism, embryonic development, and cellular homeostasis. It is one of 19 Wnt family members in humans and signals through both canonical and non-canonical pathways[1].
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Gene Symbol | WNT16 |
| Gene Name | Wingless-Type MMTV Integration Site Family Member 16 |
| Chromosomal Location | 7q31.31 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 4253 |
| OMIM ID | 616933 |
| UniProt ID | Q9Y5Q4 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000002746 |
| Gene Type | Protein Coding |
WNT16 has typical Wnt family architecture:
Two protein isoforms exist through alternative splicing:
WNT16 shows distinct expression:
WNT16 is implicated in AD through:
Evidence suggests WNT16 involvement in:
WNT16 is primarily studied in bone biology but has implications for neurodegeneration:
WNT16 pathway modulators are being investigated for:
| Protein | Interaction |
|---|---|
| Frizzled receptors | Receptor |
| LRP5/6 | Co-receptor |
| DVL | Signal transduction |
| GSK-3β | Regulation |
WNT16 has clinical relevance in multiple areas:
Key areas for future research include:
WNT16 is a multifunctional signaling protein with important roles in bone biology and emerging significance in neurodegeneration. Understanding its CNS functions may reveal novel therapeutic approaches.
Last updated: 2026-03-12
Witte F et al. Wnt signaling in osteoblasts and bone diseases. Gene. 2011. ↩︎
Mariga A et al. Wnt signaling in Alzheimer's disease: friend or foe?. Molecular Neurobiology. 2015. ↩︎