FZD - Frizzled Homolog | Elisa - Clia - Antibody - Protein

Background:

Class Frizzled GPCRs, also known as Frizzled receptors, are a subclass of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that play essential roles in development, cell differentiation, and tissue polarity. These receptors are involved in various signaling pathways, including the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway and non-canonical Wnt pathways, regulating processes such as cell proliferation, migration, and organogenesis. Frizzled receptors are activated by Wnt ligands, a family of secreted glycoproteins that regulate cell fate determination, tissue patterning, and cell polarity during embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. Wnt ligands bind to Frizzled receptors and initiate downstream signaling cascades, leading to changes in gene expression and cellular behavior.

Structural Features:

Class Frizzled GPCRs share structural features with other GPCRs, consisting of seven transmembrane domains, an extracellular N-terminus, and an intracellular C-terminus. Upon ligand binding, conformational changes in the receptor initiate intracellular signaling cascades through interaction with heterotrimeric G proteins or other signaling molecules.

Subtypes and Classification:

Frizzled receptors are classified into several subtypes based on their structural and functional characteristics, including:

Frizzled-1 (FZD1) to Frizzled-10 (FZD10): These receptors respond to various Wnt ligands and mediate the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, as well as non-canonical Wnt pathways such as the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway and the Wnt/Ca^2+ pathway.

Physiological Functions:

Frizzled receptors mediate various physiological effects in different tissues and organ systems:

1. Embryonic Development: Frizzled receptors play essential roles in embryonic development, regulating processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, tissue polarity, and organ morphogenesis.
2. Tissue Homeostasis: In adult tissues, Frizzled receptors are involved in maintaining tissue homeostasis and regulating stem cell proliferation and differentiation in various organs, including the skin, intestine, and brain.
3. Disease Pathogenesis: Dysregulation of Frizzled receptor signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including cancer, developmental disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular diseases.

Clinical Implications:

Alterations in Frizzled receptor signaling are associated with various pathological conditions:

1. Cancer: Aberrant activation of Frizzled receptors and dysregulated Wnt signaling contribute to cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance in various cancer types, including colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma.
2. Neurological Disorders: Dysfunctional Frizzled receptor signaling is implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
3. Cardiovascular Diseases: Changes in Frizzled receptor expression or activity may be involved in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cardiac hypertrophy.