Frizzled GPCR Family Subtypes and Products
What Are Frizzled Receptors?
Frizzled receptors are a family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) comprised of ten FZD receptors (FZD1 – FZD10) and the SMO receptor. Frizzled receptors play a role in a variety of biological processes such as cell proliferation and polarity, embryonic development, and neural synapse development. The SMO receptor and its agonists/antagonists are currently being evaluated as cancer drug targets, as SMO is a potential oncogene. SMO is sometimes also deactivated by mutations in the mevalonate pathway, leading to various developmental disorders.
Frizzled Receptor Information
SMO
The human smoothened homolog SMO strongly resembles that of the frizzled family of proteins, the receptors of the Wnt signaling pathway, which share several features with the Hedgehog pathway. Most often SMO functions during embryonic development, in processes such as digit patterning in the chick limb bud and left–right asymmetry of vertebrate embryos. In addition, SMO function is fundamental for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis in adults, and deregulated SMO signaling is implicated in tumorogenesis.