Special seminar: Glypicans shield the lipid moiety of Wnts to enable signalling at a distance
| Dates: | 9 March 2020 |
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| Times: | 11:00 - 12:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health |
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| Who is it for: | University staff, Current University students |
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| Speaker: | Ian McGough |
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Abstract: A relatively small number of proteins have been suggested to act as morphogens, signalling molecules that spread within tissues to organize cell fate specification during development and tissue repair. Among them are Wnt proteins, which carry a palmitoleate moiety that is essential for signalling activity. How can a hydrophobic lipoprotein spread in the aqueous extracellular space? I will provide evidence that the Wnt lipid is shielded by the core domain of a subclass of glypicans defined by the Dally-like protein (Dlp). Structural analysis shows that, in the presence of palmitoleated peptides, these glypicans change conformation to create a hydrophobic space. Thus, glypicans of the Dlp family protect the lipid of Wnts from the aqueous environment and serve as a reservoir from where Wnts can be handed over to signalling receptors.
Speaker
Ian McGough
Organisation: Francis Crick Institute
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
B.4208
Michael Smith Building
Manchester
