Wntless Homolog (WLS)

By searching for homologs of Drosophila Wls, Banziger et al. (2006) identified human GPR177, which they called WLS. The deduced 543-amino acid protein contains an N-terminal signal sequence and 7 transmembrane domains.Using small interfering RNA directed against WLS in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells expressing a WNT3A reporter plasmid, Banziger et al. (2006) demonstrated that WLS was required for cell surface WNT3A expression. They concluded that WLS plays an essential role in WNT-mediated cell-cell communication in human cells, in agreement with results obtained in Drosophila and C. elegans.Bartscherer et al. (2006) found that WLS was required for WNT signaling in HEK293 cells. Fluorescence-tagged WLS was expressed at the cell surface.