Nradd Acts as a Negative Feedback Regulator of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling and Promotes Apoptosis.

Ozgun Ozalp, Ozge Cark, Yagmur Azbazdar, Betul Haykir, Gokhan Cucun, Ismail Kucukaylak, Gozde Alkan-Yesilyurt, Erdinc Sezgin, Gunes Ozhan

Biomolecules 2021 Jan 14

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Wnt/β-catenin signaling controls many biological processes for the generation and sustainability of proper tissue size, organization and function during development and homeostasis. Consequently, mutations in the Wnt pathway components and modulators cause diseases, including genetic disorders and cancers. Targeted treatment of pathway-associated diseases entails detailed understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that fine-tune Wnt signaling. Here, we identify the neurotrophin receptor-associated death domain (Nradd), a homolog of p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), as a negative regulator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in zebrafish embryos and in mammalian cells. Nradd significantly suppresses Wnt8-mediated patterning of the mesoderm and neuroectoderm during zebrafish gastrulation. Nradd is localized at the plasma membrane, physically interacts with the Wnt receptor complex and enhances apoptosis in cooperation with Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Our functional analyses indicate that the N-glycosylated N-terminus and the death domain-containing C-terminus regions are necessary for both the inhibition of Wnt signaling and apoptosis. Finally, Nradd can induce apoptosis in mammalian cells. Thus, Nradd regulates cell death as a modifier of Wnt/β-catenin signaling during development.

Citation

Ozgun Ozalp, Ozge Cark, Yagmur Azbazdar, Betul Haykir, Gokhan Cucun, Ismail Kucukaylak, Gozde Alkan-Yesilyurt, Erdinc Sezgin, Gunes Ozhan. Nradd Acts as a Negative Feedback Regulator of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling and Promotes Apoptosis. Biomolecules. 2021 Jan 14;11(1)