Wnt5A is a nontransforming member of the Wnt family of secreted and cysteine-rich proteins that exert their cellular effects via autocrine or paracrine routes. It is a proto-oncogene that functions in modulating cell fate and cell behavior during vertebrate development and has an important role in the Wnt signaling pathway. It acts as a ligand for members of the frizzled family of seven transmembrane receptors. The protein also plays a role in preventing metastatic disease in invasive breast carcinomas. The protein has many conserved features like a hydrophobic signal sequence, Wnt1 family signature sequence (CKCHGvSGSC), and a number of other conserved aa residues. Human Wnt5A expression was detected only in neonatal heart and lung. The gene for human Wnt5A is localized on chromosome 3p21-p14.