More About Porcupine
Porcupine (PORCN; EC 2.3.1.) is a a multi-pass integral membrane-bound O-acyl transferase (MBOAT) that is required for post-translational modification of all Wnt proteins to enable their transport, secretion, and activity. Since PORCN has no known function beyond its role in the biogenesis of Wnts, it is therefore an attractive therapeutic target in diseases with dysregulated Wnt signaling (e.g. diseases related to stem cell biology, proliferation and angiogenesis)[1]. Compromised Porcn activity commonly results in developmental disorders including focal dermal hypoplasia (Goltz syndrome), whereas hyperactivity of Porcn is associated with cancerous cell growth. Inhibition of PORCN can be an effective strategy for broadly suppressing Wnt signaling and thus hold potential in regenerative medicine and anticancer applications[2].
[1] T.M. Covey et al. PORCN moonlights in a Wnt-independent pathway that regulates cancer cell proliferation. PLoSONE 2012, 7, e34532.
[2] X. Wang et al. The development of highly potent inhibitors for porcupine. J. Med. Chem. 2013, 56, 2700-2704.