IWP-2 is an inactivator of Porcn function; inhibitor of Wnt production. Wnt/b-catenin (‘canonical’) pathway maintains transcriptional programs that enable stem cells to remain multipotent. Hyperactivation of the Wnt/b-catenin pathway leads to disease stage. IWP-2 inhibits Wnt production. It appears that IWP inactivates Porcn function either by directly inhibiting the Porcn active site or by modulating the function of a Porcn regulator. Porcn is a member of the membrane-bound O-acyltransferase (MBOAT) family, which adds a palmitoyl group to Wnt proteins that is essential to their signaling ability and is required for Wnt secretion. IWP-2 is useful in both regenerative medicine and anticancer efforts.
