The WNT gene family consists of structurally related genes which encode secreted signaling proteins. These proteins have been implicated in oncogenesis and in several developmental processes, including regulation of cell fate and patterning during embryogenesis. This gene encodes a member of the WNT family that signals through both the canonical and non-canonical WNT pathways. Northern blot analysis detects expression of Wnt-5a in brain, lung, and heart. Human frizzled-5 is the receptor for the Wnt-5a ligand. It is suggested that Wnt-5a augments primitive hematopoietic development in vivo and functions as a regulator of hematopoietic stem cell function.
