The Wnt signal transduction cascade controls myriad biological phenomena throughout the development and adult life of all animals.
I have seen many research works that have been used LiCl as a WNT activator but few research studies attempted to use it as an inhibitor.
Could anyone clarify, how LiCl would be used as a WNT inhibitor in developmental biology research?
hi Praneeth Silva
LiCl is a Wnt activator. The Wnt pathway plays a dual role in many disease & developmental processes. For example, in initial heart development, Wnt activation is required while at a later stage of Heart development which means maturation, Wnt inhibition needed.
IMPORTANTLY, Wnt pathway regulation (activation/inhibition) completely depends on Wnt modulators such as Wnt ligands, Wnt receptors, Wnt antagonists, and Wnt agonists. These modulators not only regulate the pathways but switch the Wnt/b-catenin pathway to Wnt non-canonical pathway (PCP or calcineurin). So, while analysis we need to analyze one of each regulator expression to understand their role during the process.
Regards
Saurabh
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