How Does the Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway Work?
The canonical Wnt pathway is initiated when Wnt proteins bind to the Frizzled (Fz) receptor and the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5/6 (LRP5/6) co-receptor on the cell surface. This event triggers the disassembly of the β-catenin destruction complex, which includes proteins such as APC, Axin, and GSK-3β. As a result, β-catenin accumulates in the cytoplasm and translocates into the nucleus, where it activates the transcription of Wnt target genes by interacting with TCF/LEF transcription factors.
