Frizzled-4(Fz-4) is aprotein that in humans is encoded by theFZD4gene.[5][6][7] Fz-4 has also been designated asCD344 (cluster of differentiation 344).
This gene is a member of thefrizzled gene family. Members of this family encode seven-transmembrane domain proteins that are receptors for the Wingless type MMTV integration site family of signaling proteins. Frizzled-4 is the only representative of frizzled family members that binds strongly an additional ligandNorrin that is functionally similar but structurally different from Wingless type proteins.[8] FZD4 signaling induced by Norrin regulates vascular development of vertebrateretina and controls important blood vessels in the ear. Most frizzled receptors are coupled to the beta-catenin canonical signaling pathway. This protein may play a role as a positive regulator of the Wingless type MMTV integration site signaling pathway. A transcript variant retaining intronic sequence and encoding a shorterisoform has been described, however, its expression is not supported by other experimental evidence.[7]
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This article incorporates text from theUnited States National Library of Medicine, which is in thepublic domain.