PTK7 proteolytic fragment proteins function during early Xenopus development.

Protein Tyrosine Kinase 7 (PTK7) is as a critical regulator of canonical and non-canonical Wnt-signaling during embryonic development and cancer cell formation. Disrupting PTK7 activity perturbs vertebrate nervous system development, and also promotes human cancer formation. Observations in different model systems suggest a complex cross-talk between PTK7 protein and Wnt signaling.

PTK7 modulates Wnt signaling activity via LRP6.

Protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7) is a transmembrane protein expressed in the developing Xenopus neural plate. PTK7 regulates vertebrate planar cell polarity (PCP), controlling mesodermal and neural convergent-extension (CE) cell movements, neural crest migration and neural tube closure in vertebrate embryos. Besides CE phenotypes, we now show that PTK7 protein knockdown also inhibits Wnt/β-catenin activity.