Naked Cuticle Homolog 1 (NKD1)

In the mouse, Nkd is a Dishevelled-binding protein that functions as a negative regulator of the Wnt-beta-catenin-Tcf signaling pathway.

The deduced 470-amino acid protein contains an EF-hand Ca(2+)-binding motif. NKD1 shares about 44% overall identity with NKD2, including more than 75% identity in 4 major homology domains, including the EF-hand motif. Northern blot analysis revealed wide expression of 5 transcripts of 9.3 to 2.3 kb in adult and fetal tissues and in cancer cell lines. Highest expression was detected in fetal kidney, followed by fetal lung, placenta, and adult liver, kidney, pancreas, and spleen. Multiple transcripts were generated through the use of alternative polyadenylation sites.