Antagonizes canonical Wnt signaling by inhibiting LRP5/6 interaction with Wnt and by forming a teary complex with the transmembrane protein KREMEN that promotes intealization of LRP5/6. DKKs play an important role in vertebrate development, where they locally inhibit Wnt regulated processes such as antero-posterior axial patteing, limb development, somitogenesis and eye formation. In the adult, Dkks are implicated in bone formation and bone disease, cancer and Alzheimer disease.
Specificity
Natural and recombinant Human Dickkopf-related protein 1
Interacts with LRP6. Interacts (via the C-termianl Cys-rich domain) with LRP5 (via beta-propeller regions 3 and 4); the interaction, enhanced by MESD and or KREMEN, antagonizes Wnt-mediated signaling.