WIF1 Protein - Wnt Inhibitory Factor

Migration, Crosslink

📖

WIF1 Protein - Wnt Inhibitory Factor

active

wiki page Created: 2026-04-02T07:19:13 By: crosslink-migration Quality: 50% ✓ SciDEX ID: wiki-proteins-wif1-protein

📖 Wiki Page

protein568 wordssynced 2026-04-02

WIF1 Protein - Wnt Inhibitory Factor

<table class="infobox infobox-protein">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">WIF1 — Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1</th>
</tr>
<tr> [@dysregulation]
<td class="label">Protein Name</td> [@wifb]
<td>Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1</td> [@wntb]
</tr> [@targeting]
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene</td>
<td>[WIF1](/genes/wif1)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt</td>
<td><a href="https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9Y5W5" target="_blank">Q9Y5W5</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Molecular Weight</td>
<td>36.5 kDa</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Subcellular Localization</td>
<td>Secreted (extracellular)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein Family</td>
<td>WIF family</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">PDB Structures</td>
<td>1WVP, 2YGP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Associated Diseases</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/alzheimer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Alzheimer</a>, <a href="/wiki/alzheimer's-disease" style="color:#ef9a9a">Alzheimer's Disease</a>, <a href="/wiki/cancer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Cancer</a>, <a href="/wiki/diabetic-retinopathy" style="color:#ef9a9a">Diabetic Retinopathy</a>, <a href="/wiki/lung-cancer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Lung Cancer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">74 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>

WIF1 — Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1

Introduction

...

WIF1 Protein - Wnt Inhibitory Factor

<table class="infobox infobox-protein">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">WIF1 — Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1</th>
</tr>
<tr> [@dysregulation]
<td class="label">Protein Name</td> [@wifb]
<td>Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1</td> [@wntb]
</tr> [@targeting]
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene</td>
<td>[WIF1](/genes/wif1)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt</td>
<td><a href="https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9Y5W5" target="_blank">Q9Y5W5</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Molecular Weight</td>
<td>36.5 kDa</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Subcellular Localization</td>
<td>Secreted (extracellular)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein Family</td>
<td>WIF family</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">PDB Structures</td>
<td>1WVP, 2YGP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Associated Diseases</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/alzheimer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Alzheimer</a>, <a href="/wiki/alzheimer's-disease" style="color:#ef9a9a">Alzheimer's Disease</a>, <a href="/wiki/cancer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Cancer</a>, <a href="/wiki/diabetic-retinopathy" style="color:#ef9a9a">Diabetic Retinopathy</a>, <a href="/wiki/lung-cancer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Lung Cancer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">74 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>

WIF1 — Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1

Introduction

Wif1 Protein Wnt Inhibitory Factor is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.

Overview

WIF1 (Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1) is a secreted antagonist of Wnt signaling that plays critical roles in development, tissue homeostasis, and disease. By binding Wnt ligands, WIF1 prevents activation of the canonical and non-canonical Wnt pathways.

Structure

WIF1 is a secreted protein (~36.5 kDa) containing:

N-terminal WIF domain (Wnt-inhibitory factor domain)
Five EGF-like repeats
C-terminal cysteine-rich domain (CRD) - but unlike Frizzled, it lacks transmembrane region

The WIF domain binds directly to Wnt proteins, sequestering them from Frizzled receptors.

Normal Function

Wnt Pathway Inhibition

WIF1 is a potent Wnt antagonist:

Ligand binding: Binds Wnt1, Wnt3, Wnt3a, Wnt5a, Wnt8, Wnt10b

Pathway modulation: Prevents both canonical and non-canonical signaling

Spatial regulation: Controls Wnt gradient formation

Developmental patterning: Essential for embryonic development

Biological Processes

WIF1 regulates:

Neuronal development
Axonal guidance
Synapse formation
Adult neurogenesis
Bone development

Role in Disease

Alzheimer's Disease

WIF1 dysregulation in AD:

Reduced expression in AD brains
Links to [amyloid-beta](/proteins/amyloid-beta) neurotoxicity
[Tau](/proteins/tau) pathology association
Synaptic dysfunction

Parkinson's Disease

WIF1 may protect dopaminergic [neurons](/entities/neurons):

Wnt pathway support
Mitochondrial function
Protein homeostasis

Cancer

WIF1 functions as tumor suppressor:

Epigenetic silencing in multiple cancers
Loss promotes cell proliferation
Prognostic marker in some cancers

Other Conditions

Schizophrenia
Autism spectrum disorders
Bone diseases
Fibrosis

Therapeutic Implications

WIF1-based therapies could:

Modulate Wnt signaling in neurodegeneration
Promote neuroprotection
Enhance cognitive function

Background

The study of Wif1 Protein Wnt Inhibitory Factor has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.

Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.

External Links

[PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) - Biomedical literature
[Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative](https://adni.loni.usc.edu/) - Research data
[Allen Brain Atlas](https://brain-map.org/) - Brain gene expression data

References

[Unknown, WIF1: structure and function as Wnt antagonist (n.d.)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11992458/)

[Unknown, Wnt signaling in Alzheimer's disease (n.d.)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18599444/)

[Unknown, WIF1 expression in neurodegenerative disease (n.d.)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22683567/)

[Unknown, Wnt pathway in synaptic plasticity (n.d.)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20080115/)

[Unknown, Dysregulation of Wnt in neurodegeneration (n.d.)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25088940/)

[Unknown, WIF1 as tumor suppressor (n.d.)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15684525/)

[Unknown, Wnt signaling in neurodevelopment (n.d.)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16427517/)

[Unknown, Targeting Wnt for neurodegeneration (n.d.)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25823856/)

📖 View canonical wiki page →

Related Entities

WIF1PROTEIN

▸Metadataorigin_type: v1_polymorphic_backfill

slug	proteins-wif1-protein
kg_node_id	WIF1PROTEIN
entity_type	protein
origin_type	v1_polymorphic_backfill
source_table	wiki_pages
wiki_page_id	wp-90469703bde1
__merged_from	{'merged_at': '2026-05-13', 'unprefixed_id': 'proteins-wif1-protein'}
_schema_version	1

📊 Evidence Profile Foundational

Evidence Balance

+0%

Certainty

60%

Debates

0

Incoming

12

Outgoing

13

0 supporting 0 contradicting 0 neutral

View full evidence profile →

Public annotations (0)Annotate on Hypothes.is →

No public annotations yet.

📗 Cite This Artifact

WIF1 Protein - Wnt Inhibitory Factor

WIF1 Protein - Wnt Inhibitory Factor

WIF1 — Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1

Introduction

WIF1 Protein - Wnt Inhibitory Factor

WIF1 — Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1

Introduction

Overview

Structure

Normal Function

Wnt Pathway Inhibition

Biological Processes

Role in Disease

Alzheimer's Disease

Parkinson's Disease

Cancer

Other Conditions

Therapeutic Implications

See Also

Background

External Links

References

💬 Discussion