WLS (Wnt Ligand Secretion Mediator)
Key regulator of Wnt signaling pathway involved in development and cancer
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | WLS |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Wnt Ligand Secretion Mediator |
| Gene Type | Protein coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 1p31.3 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 79971 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/79971 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000116729 |
| UniProt ID | Q5T9L3 |
| OMIM ID | 611514 |
| HGNC ID | 24938 |
| Aliases | GPR177, MGC131981, MGC149531, MGC149532 |
Description
The WLS gene encodes a transmembrane protein that acts as a cargo receptor essential for the secretion of Wnt ligands. It binds Wnt proteins in the Golgi apparatus and facilitates their transport to the cell surface, thereby regulating Wnt signaling pathways critical for embryonic development, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Mutations in WLS are associated with developmental disorders and various cancers.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Autosomal recessive Robinow syndrome | Loss-of-function mutations impair Wnt secretion, disrupting developmental signaling | OMIM #616331 |
| Colorectal cancer | Overexpression of WLS enhances Wnt ligand secretion, promoting tumor growth | COSMIC, PubMed |
| Breast cancer | WLS upregulation correlates with poor prognosis and metastatic potential | COSMIC, PubMed |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Brain | 12.5 | Medium |
| Heart | 8.3 | Low |
| Liver | 6.1 | Low |
| Kidney | 15.2 | Medium |
| Lung | 9.8 | Low |
| Pancreas | 4.7 | Low |
| Placenta | 20.1 | High |
| Testis | 18.6 | High |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HEK 293 | 22.4 | High expression |
| HeLa | 15.1 | Medium expression |
| MCF7 | 12.8 | Medium expression |
| A549 | 9.3 | Low expression |
| HepG2 | 7.5 | Low expression |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| c.1000C>T (p.Arg334Ter) | Nonsense | <0.01% | Loss of function; associated with Robinow syndrome |
| c.742G>A (p.Gly248Arg) | Missense | <0.01% | Impaired Wnt binding; developmental defects |
| c.1234A>G (p.Thr412Ala) | Missense | 0.02% | Reduced secretion activity; cancer-related |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
Nonsense and missense mutations that disrupt Wnt ligand binding or transport, leading to reduced Wnt signaling; associated with Robinow syndrome.
Gain of Function (GOF)
Not well characterized; overexpression in cancers suggests potential gain-of-function via increased Wnt secretion.
Dominant Negative (DN)
Not reported for WLS.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
| • signaling receptor binding (GO:0005102) | • protein binding (GO:0005515) |
| • intracellular protein transport (GO:0006886) | • integral component of membrane (GO:0016021) |
| • myoblast fusion (GO:0030239) | • Wnt signaling pathway (GO:0030173) |
| • post-anal tail morphogenesis (GO:0036342) | • locomotion (GO:0040011) |
| • positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II (GO:0045944) | • canonical Wnt signaling pathway (GO:0060070) |
Pathways
• Wnt signaling pathway (Reactome: R-HSA-195721)
• Wnt ligand biogenesis and secretion (Reactome: R-HSA-3238698)
• Signaling by WNT (Reactome: R-HSA-195721)
Protein Summary
WLS is a multi-pass transmembrane protein localized to the Golgi apparatus and plasma membrane. It functions as a Wnt ligand chaperone, binding palmitoylated Wnt proteins and escorting them from the Golgi to the cell surface for secretion. The protein contains a conserved domain essential for Wnt interaction and is regulated by post-translational modifications. WLS is critical for paracrine and autocrine Wnt signaling, influencing cell fate decisions during development and tissue homeostasis.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WLS Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ3607 | Human | 79971 | Details Get a Quote |
| WLS Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ25523 | Human | 79971 | Details Get a Quote |
| WLS Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ25524 | Human | 79971 | Details Get a Quote |
| WLS Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ25525 | Human | 79971 | Details Get a Quote |
