Figure 1
From: A review of the evidence for the canonical Wnt pathway in autism spectrum disorders
Schematic representation of the canonical Wnt2 pathway, including all genes discussed in the current review. Wnt2 activates the 7-transmembrane-spanning Fzd9 receptor, which together with the co-receptor LRP5/6 activates dishevelled (DVL). Activated DVL inhibits the activity of the β-catenin “destruction complex” (indicated as a light blue ellipse). β-catenin is released from its complex with cadherin by the activity of the HGF receptor MET. When β-catenin is protected against destruction, it can enter the nucleus, bind the transcription factor LEF1 and co-factors to promote transcription of target genes like, for example, engrailed 2 (EN2). The functional consequence is an increase in cell growth and motility.