Wnt signaling refers to a conserved signaling pathway, widely studied due to its roles in cellular communication, cell fate decisions, development and cancer. However, the exact mechanism underlying inhibition of the GSK phosphorylation towards β-catenin and activation of the pathway after biding of Wnt ligand to its cognate receptors at the plasma membrane remains unclear. Wnt target genes are widely spread over several animal phyla. They participate in a plethora of functions during the development of an organism, from axial specification, gastrulation and organogenesis all the way to regeneration and repair in adults. Temporal and spatial oncogenetic re-activation of Wnt signaling almost certainly leads to cancer. Wnt signaling components have been extensively studied as possible targets in anti-cancer therapies. In this review we will discuss one of the most intriguing questions in this field, that is how β–catenin, a major component in this pathway, escapes the destruction complex, gets stabilized in the cytosol and it is translocated to the nucleus where it acts as a co-transcription factor. Four major models have evolved during the past 20 years. We dissected each of them along with current views and future perspectives on this pathway. This review will focus on the molecular mechanisms by which Wnt proteins modulate β-catenin cytoplasmic levels and the relevance of this pathway for the development and cancer.

Wnt信号传导是指保守的信号传导途径，由于其在细胞通讯，细胞命运决定，发育和癌症中的作用而被广泛研究。但是，尚不清楚确切的机制是抑制WSK配体与其质膜上的同源受体结合后抑制GSK向β-catenin磷酸化并激活该途径。Wnt靶基因广泛分布在几个动物门上。它们在生物体的发育过程中参与多种功能，从轴向规格，胃形成和器官发生一直到成年人的再生和修复。Wnt信号的时间和空间致癌基因再激活几乎肯定会导致癌症。Wnt信号成分已被广泛研究作为抗癌治疗中的可能目标。在这篇综述中，我们将讨论该领域最引人入胜的问题之一，即该途径中的主要成分β-连环蛋白如何逃脱破坏复合物，在细胞质中稳定下来并转移到其作用的核中作为共转录因子。在过去的20年中，已经发展出了四种主要模式。我们对每个人进行了剖析，并就此途径对当前观点和未来观点进行了剖析。这项审查将侧重于Wnt蛋白调节β-catenin细胞质水平的分子机制，以及该途径与发展和癌症的相关性。在细胞质中稳定下来，并转移到细胞核中，作为共转录因子。在过去的20年中，已经发展出了四种主要模式。我们对每个人进行了剖析，并就此途径对当前观点和未来观点进行了剖析。这项审查将侧重于Wnt蛋白调节β-catenin细胞质水平的分子机制，以及该途径与发展和癌症的相关性。在细胞质中稳定下来，并转移到细胞核中，作为共转录因子。在过去的20年中，已经发展出了四种主要模式。我们对每个人进行了剖析，并就此途径对当前观点和未来观点进行了剖析。这项审查将侧重于Wnt蛋白调节β-catenin细胞质水平的分子机制，以及该途径与发展和癌症的相关性。