Great two days at our Wnt SFB 1324 meeting @heidelberg ! 🧬

Fantastic science, fresh ideas, new tools & lots of exciting collaborations. Great to have Lizzy, Gemma & Jess presenting their work and getting inspired.

Now back @lsiexeter.bsky.social to try it all out! 🔬🐟 #Wnt #Cytonemes

These findings trace a single molecular defect — disruption of a lipid-binding interface — across biological scales, from extracellular ligand organisation through tissue-scale morphogen architecture and intracellular signalling to skeletal development and human disease. #WNT #development #disease

GPC6 shields the WNT5A lipid from premature Frizzled engagement, providing a protected window for diffusion and preserving a tissue-scale WNT pool for long-range action. Rather than simply maintaining solubility, GPC6 controls where signalling-competent WNT5A is used. #WNT #morphogen #gradients

Loss of GPC6 lipid binding disrupts bone growth plate organisation — loss of columnar polarity, impaired proliferation and delayed hypertrophic differentiation. The lipid-binding interface is essential for normal endochondral bone growth. #chondrocyte #growthplate #WNT

Yes lipid binding is conserved in vertebrates. We show GPC6 directly binds a palmitoleoylated WNT peptide. A single mutation, A116W, blocks lipid binding without affecting GPC6 folding, secretion or heparan sulfate modification. A clean separation-of-function tool. #WNT #glypican

Proud to share the labs first preprint! Led by Yeon, whose hard work, dedication and drive have been instrumental in bringing the project to this point. Thank you to everyone involved, especially long-term collaborators Yvonne and Yuguang. #Wnt #WntUK #RASopathy #ERK

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

How does a Wnt cytoneme contact become a productive signalling site?

Emma Cooper and colleagues find focal Ca²⁺ transients at cytoneme contacts and link Ca²⁺ availability to contact stability and Wnt/β-catenin signalling.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

#Wnt #Cytonemes #CellBiology