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Zebrafish Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Reporters Facilitate Understanding of In Vivo Dynamic Regulation and Discovery of Therapeutic Agents

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Zebrafish, Medaka, and Other Small Fishes

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Abstract

Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays multiple roles in embryogenesis, organogenesis, and adult tissue homeostasis, and its dysregulation is linked to numerous human diseases such as cancer. Although strict spatiotemporal regulation must support the multi-functionality of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, detailed mechanisms remain unclear. In addition, Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a potential drug target candidate and several inhibitors have been identified by in vitro screening, but none have yet been incorporated into clinical practice. Recent studies using reporter zebrafish lines have gradually improved our understanding of in vivo dynamic regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and have facilitated the discovery of new chemicals that can reduce Wnt/β-catenin signaling and cancer cell viability with few side effects. Here, we describe several new mechanisms supporting the spatiotemporal regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and new small molecule inhibitors, discovered using zebrafish reporters. In addition, we discuss the potential of zebrafish signaling reporters in both developmental biology and pharmaceutical sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lab of Integrated Signaling Systems, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute for Molecular & Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan

    Tohru Ishitani & Juqi Zou

Authors
  1. Tohru Ishitani
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  2. Juqi Zou
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Correspondence to Tohru Ishitani .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Science and Engineering, Aoyama Gakuin University, Sagamihara, Japan

    Hiromi Hirata

  2. Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

    Atsuo Iida

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Ishitani, T., Zou, J. (2018). Zebrafish Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Reporters Facilitate Understanding of In Vivo Dynamic Regulation and Discovery of Therapeutic Agents. In: Hirata, H., Iida, A. (eds) Zebrafish, Medaka, and Other Small Fishes. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1879-5_1

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