cwn-1 encodes one of five C. elegans Wnt signaling ligands; during embryogenesis cwn-1 likely functions as a downstream target of the PAL-1 homeodomain protein in the regulatory network that specifies cell fates in the C lineage that gives rise to ectodermal and muscle tissue; consistent with this role, loss of cwn-1 activity via RNAi results in rare larval tail defects that may result, in part, from abnormal morphogenesis of C lineage descendants; a cwn-1 reporter is expressed in C and D muscle cells, as well as in two posterior C ectodermal cells; cwn-1 mRNA is detectable at all developmental stages, with highest levels of expression seen in embryonic stages.
Enables receptor tyrosine kinase binding activity. Involved in several processes, including neuroblast migration; neuron migration; and positive regulation of axon guidance. Predicted to be located in extracellular space. Expressed in several structures, including CAN; hypodermal cell; intestine; muscle cell; and somatic nervous system. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Mullerian aplasia and hyperandrogenism and endometrial carcinoma. Is an ortholog of human WNT4 (Wnt family member 4).