The Wnt pathway is central to a host of developmental and disease-related processes. The remarkable conservation of this intercellular signaling cascade throughout metazoan lineages indicates that it coevolved with multicellularity to regulate the generation and spatial arrangement of distinct cell types. By regulating cell fate specification, mitotic activity, and cell polarity, Wnt signaling orchestrates development and tissue homeostasis, and its dysregulation is implicated in developmental defects, cancer, and degenerative disorders. We review advances in our understanding of this key pathway, from Wnt protein production and secretion to relay of the signal in the cytoplasm of the receiving cell. We discuss the evolutionary history of this pathway as well as endogenous and synthetic modulators of its activity. Finally, we highlight remaining gaps in our knowledge of Wnt signal transduction and avenues for future research.

中文翻译：

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Wnt 通路：从信号机制到合成调节剂

Wnt 通路是许多发育和疾病相关过程的核心。这种细胞间信号级联在整个后生动物谱系中的显着保守性表明它与多细胞性共同进化以调节不同细胞类型的生成和空间排列。通过调节细胞命运规范、有丝分裂活性和细胞极性，Wnt 信号传导协调发育和组织稳态，其失调与发育缺陷、癌症和退行性疾病有关。我们回顾了对这一关键途径的理解进展，从 Wnt 蛋白的产生和分泌到接收细胞细胞质中信号的传递。我们讨论了该途径的进化历史以及其活性的内源性和合成调节剂。最后，我们强调了我们在 Wnt 信号转导知识和未来研究途径方面仍存在的差距。