Dapper, Antagonist Of Beta Catenin Homolog 2 (DACT2)

DACT2 shares 28.8% amino acid identity with DACT1. In silico expression analysis indicated that DACT2 was expressed in placenta, genitourinary tract tumor, and endometrial adenocarcinoma.Dapper2 expressed in mesoderm precursors during early embryogenesis, and it was positively regulated by Nodal signals. In vivo functional studies suggested that Dapper2 suppresses mesoderm induction by Nodal signaling. When expressed in human epithelial cells, zebrafish Dapper2 had little effect on WNT signaling, but it inhibited receptor-mediated SMAD2 activation and the formation of SMAD protein complexes. Dapper2 specifically bound the TGFB  receptors ALK5 and ALK4. Dapper2 localized in late endosomes, and binding of Dapper2 to ALK5 and ALK4 accelerated their lysosomal degradation.