PORCN
PORCN (porcupine O-acyltransferase, also known as MG61, PORC, PPN, por and DHOF) is an endoplasmic reticulum membrane enzyme that attaches palmitoleate to Wnt proteins. This modification makes it a key regulator of the Wnt signalling pathway. Browse Assay Genie's current range of PORCN research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
PORCN is a protein-serine O-palmitoleoyltransferase that acts as a key regulator of the Wnt signalling pathway. It mediates the attachment of palmitoleate, a 16-carbon monounsaturated fatty acid (C16:1(9Z)), to Wnt proteins. This serine palmitoleoylation of WNT proteins is required for efficient binding to frizzled receptors, so the activity of PORCN sits at an early, essential step in Wnt signal transmission.
The PORCN gene belongs to the evolutionarily conserved porcupine (Porc) gene family. Members of this family encode endoplasmic reticulum proteins with multiple transmembrane domains, and UniProt places the protein in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. It belongs to the membrane-bound acyltransferase family, porcupine subfamily, and HGNC classifies it in the membrane bound O-acyltransferase family. Porcupine proteins are involved in the processing of Wnt (wingless and int homologue) proteins. The mouse ortholog is Porcn. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been observed for the human gene.
The historical names reflect its discovery and disease association: HGNC lists the previous names "dermal hypoplasia, focal" and "porcupine homolog (Drosophila)". Disruption of the PORCN gene is associated with focal dermal hypoplasia, and the encoded protein has been implicated in cancer. Researchers studying Wnt biology, developmental disorders and tumour signalling therefore use PORCN as a point of reference for how lipid modification controls Wnt activity.
PORCN palmitoleoylates Wnt proteins, a step required for efficient binding to frizzled receptors, making it central to studies of Wnt pathway regulation.
As a serine O-palmitoleoyltransferase, PORCN is a model for how fatty acid attachment to secreted proteins is catalysed in the endoplasmic reticulum.
Disruption of the PORCN gene is associated with focal dermal hypoplasia, linking the enzyme to skin and developmental biology.
The encoded protein has been implicated in cancer, prompting investigation of PORCN-dependent Wnt processing in tumour signalling.
PORCN is a protein-serine O-palmitoleoyltransferase in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. It attaches palmitoleate, a 16-carbon monounsaturated fatty acid, to Wnt proteins. This serine palmitoleoylation is required for efficient binding of WNT proteins to frizzled receptors, which is why PORCN is a key regulator of Wnt signalling.
Aliases include MG61, PORC, PPN, por and DHOF. HGNC also lists the previous names "dermal hypoplasia, focal" and "porcupine homolog (Drosophila)". UniProt names the protein protein-serine O-palmitoleoyltransferase porcupine. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been observed.
Disruption of the PORCN gene is associated with focal dermal hypoplasia, and the protein has been implicated in cancer. The porcupine family is evolutionarily conserved, and the mouse ortholog is Porcn. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Wnt ligands, frizzled receptors and other Wnt pathway components that relate to PORCN biology.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q9H237; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.