Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LRP6gene.[5][6] LRP6 is a key component of the LRP5/LRP6/Frizzled co-receptor group that is involved in canonical Wnt pathway.
Structure
LRP6 is a transmembrane low-density lipoproteinreceptor that shares a similar structure with LRP5. In each protein, about 85% of its 1600-amino-acid length is extracellular. Each has four YWTDβ-propeller motifs at the amino terminal end that alternate with four epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats, followed by three LDLR type A repeats. Most extracellular ligands bind to LRP5 and LRP6 at the β-propellers. Each protein has a single-pass, 22-amino-acid transmembrane helix followed by a 207-amino-acid segment that is internal to the cell.[7][8]
Function
LRP6 acts as a co-receptor with LRP5 and the Frizzled protein family members for transducing signals by Wnt proteins through the canonical Wnt pathway.[8]
A LRP6 mutant lacking the intracellular domain is defective in Wnt signaling[9] while LRP6 mutant lacking the extracellular domain (but anchored on the membrane) are constitutively active.[10]
Interactions
Canonical WNT signals are transduced through Frizzled receptor and LRP5/LRP6 coreceptor to downregulate GSK3beta (GSK3B) activity not depending on Ser-9 phosphorylation.[11] Reduction of canonical Wnt signals upon depletion of LRP5 and LRP6 results in p120-catenin degradation.[12]
LRP6 is regulated by extracellular proteins in the Dickkopf (Dkk) family (like DKK1[13]), sclerostin, R-spondins and members of the cysteine-knot-type protein family.[8]
Clinical significance
Common genetic variants of LRP6 have been associated with the risks for hyperlipidemia,[14] atherosclerosis,[15] coronary disease,[16] and late-onset Alzheimer's disease[17] in the general population.
Loss-of-function mutations or LRP6 in humans lead to increased plasma LDL and triglycerides, hypertension, diabetes and osteoporosis.[8] Similarly, mice with a loss-of-function Lrp6 mutation have low bone mass.[18] LRP6 is critical in bone's anabolic response to parathyroid hormone (PTH) treatment, whereas LRP5 is not involved.[18] On the other hand, LRP6 does not appear active in mechanotransduction (bone's response to forces), while LRP5 is critical in that role.[18]
Sclerostin, one of the inhibitors of LRP6, is a promising osteocyte-specific Wnt antagonist in osteoporosis clinical trials.[19][20]
^Tamai K, Semenov M, Kato Y, Spokony R, Liu C, Katsuyama Y, Hess F, Saint-Jeannet JP, He X (September 2000). "LDL-receptor-related proteins in Wnt signal transduction". Nature. 407 (6803): 530–535. doi:10.1038/35035117.
^Mao B, Wu W, Li Y, Hoppe D, Stannek P, Glinka A, Niehrs C (17 May 2001). "LDL-receptor-related protein 6 is a receptor for Dickkopf proteins". Nature. 411 (6835): 321–325. doi:10.1038/35077108.
^Sarzani R, Salvi F, Bordicchia M, Guerra F, Battistoni I, Pagliariccio G, Carbonari L, Dessì-Fulgheri P, Rappelli A (February 2011). "Carotid artery atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients with a functional LDL receptor-related protein 6 gene variant". Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases. 21 (2): 150–156. doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2009.08.004.
^Baron R, Kneissel M (February 2013). "WNT signaling in bone homeostasis and disease: from human mutations to treatments". Nature Medicine. 19 (2): 179–192. doi:10.1038/nm.3074. PMID23389618. S2CID19968640.
He X, Semenov M, Tamai K, Zeng X (2004). "LDL receptor-related proteins 5 and 6 in Wnt/beta-catenin signaling: arrows point the way". Development. 131 (8): 1663–77. doi:10.1242/dev.01117. PMID15084453. S2CID2297859.
Baens M, Wlodarska I, Corveleyn A, et al. (1999). "A physical, transcript, and deletion map of chromosome region 12p12.3 flanked by ETV6 and CDKN1B: hypermethylation of the LRP6 CpG island in two leukemia patients with hemizygous del(12p)". Genomics. 56 (1): 40–50. doi:10.1006/geno.1998.5685. PMID10036184.
Wang X, Adhikari N, Li Q, Hall JL (2005). "LDL receptor-related protein LRP6 regulates proliferation and survival through the Wnt cascade in vascular smooth muscle cells". Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 287 (6): H2376–83. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.01173.2003. PMID15271658.
Li Y, Lu W, He X, et al. (2005). "LRP6 expression promotes cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis by altering beta-catenin subcellular distribution". Oncogene. 23 (56): 9129–35. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1208123. PMID15516984. S2CID11159925.