HLY78 is an activator of the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway. HLY78 acts upstream of β-catenin synergistically with Wnt. It is believed to bind at a cavity at the dimeric interface of the Axin DIX domain, causing a conformational change of Axin to an active state, potentiating Axin–LRP6 association and promoting Wnt signaling transduction. There are several Wnt inhibitors used to study their potential in cancer therapy but few small molecules that activate the Wnt pathway. In Zebrafish, HLY78 increased the expression of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transcription factors runx1 and cmyb, showing that it might be useful in HSC expansion, which could be important in transplantation and recovery after injury.
