DKK1 Research Reagents

Dickkopf-related protein 1 is a secreted protein that is encoded by DKK1 gene that acts from the anterior visceral endoderm, and is a member of the dickkopf family. This kind of secreted proteins is characterized by two cysteine rich regions and is involved in embryonic development by antagonizes canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Its inhibition of the Wnt signaling pathway is through inhibiting LRP5/6 interaction with Wnt and via forming a ternary complex with the transmembrane protein KREMEN1 that promotes internalization of LRP5/6. DKK1 was also demonstrated to antagonize the Wnt/β-catenin pathway via a reduction in β-catenin and an increase in OCT4 expression. This inhibition plays a key role in heart, head and forelimb development during anterior morphogenesis of the embryo.

Moreover, emerging evidence suggests that DKKs play an important role in vertebrate development, where they locally inhibit Wnt regulated processes such as antero-posterior axial patterning, limb development, somitogenesis and eye formation. In the adult, Dkks are implicated in bone formation and bone disease, cancer and Alzheimer disease, and inhibits the pro-apoptotic function of KREMEN1 in a Wnt-independent manner, and has anti-apoptotic activity. Furthermore, elevated expression of this gene has been observed in numerous human cancers and this protein may promote proliferation, invasion and growth in cancer cell lines.

The following DKK1 reagents supplied by CUSABIO are manufactured under a strict quality control system. Multiple applications have been validated and solid technical support is offered.