# Characterizing Wnt Signaling Pathways in Axon Guidance

> **NIH NIH R37** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $628,425

## Abstract

Neural circuits are formed by directed growth of axons and dendrites and subsequent assembly of synapses
between selected pre- and postsynaptic neurons at precise anatomical and subcellular locations. Although
tremendous progress has been made in identifying the key axon guidance cues for nervous system development
in the past two decades, the signaling and cell biological mechanisms of axon guidance still remain partially
understood. The incomplete knowledge of how growth cones signal to respond to specific cues hinders our ability
to apply the knowledge from axon guidance studies to repair circuits and restore function after traumatic injury
and in neurodegenerative disorders. We found that Wnt family morphogens are axon guidance cues and the
planar cell polarity pathway mediates Wnt function in axon guidance. We also found that Wnt signaling regulate
axon regrow after spinal cord injury in adulthood and planar cell polarity signaling regulates the assembly of
glutamatergic synapse formation. We plan to use Wnt/PCP signaling as a tool to address unsolved fundamental
questions in growth cone guidance and understand its expanded role in adult axon regeneration. Aim 1: How
PCP components create asymmetric signaling to mediate growth cone turning in development. Aim 2:
Interactions between Wnt/PCP pathway and canonical Wnt pathway and the Shh pathway in A-P guidance. Aim
3: Role of Wnt/PCP signaling in functional recovery after spinal cord injury.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9920218
- **Project number:** 5R37NS047484-16
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** YIMIN ZOU
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $628,425
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2004-07-01 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9920218

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9920218, Characterizing Wnt Signaling Pathways in Axon Guidance (5R37NS047484-16). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9920218. Licensed CC0.

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