{
  "abstract": "Wnt signalling controls morphogenesis, patterning and homeostasis across tissues. Because Wnt ligands are lipid-modified, their movement between cells cannot rely on simple diffusion and instead requires specialised transport mechanisms. Signalling filopodia, also known as cytonemes, have emerged as a key mediator of contact-dependent morphogen delivery. The mechanisms that stabilise signalling interfaces between Wnt ligand-bearing and receptor-bearing membranes at the cytoneme contact sites, a prerequisite for efficient Wnt ligand-receptor complex assembly and downstream pathway activation, remain poorly understood. Here, we show that HeLa cell cytonemes carry canonical Wnt components and form contact sites marked by focal Ca2+ transients. At these contacts, local Wnt and Ca2+ signals act in a positive feedback loop to promote longer-lasting interactions between neighbouring cells. Mechanistically, we find that E-cadherin/Cadherin 1 (CDH1) co-accumulates at these cytoneme contact sites in a Ca2+ - and Wnt-dependent manner, suggesting that contact stabilisation can be mediated by local adhesion. Consistent with this, presentation of Wnt ligands and CDH1 at cytoneme tips, together with Ca2+ availability, enhances Wnt signalosome formation at contact sites and, consequently, nuclear beta-catenin accumulation in the target cells. Our data support a model in which local Ca2+ transients stabilise cytoneme contacts and facilitate efficient Wnt ligand transfer to the receiving membrane, thereby enhancing canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signalling. We propose that focal Ca2+ signalling can serve as a contact-authentication step for morphogen signalling, converting transient cytoneme encounters into effective activators of the signal transduction cascade.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "E. Cooper"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Liddle"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "S. Scholpp"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fyjfe48fz06wq.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.15.751720",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.15.751720v1.full",
  "id": "fyjfe48fz06wq",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.15.751720v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "cell biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213764287",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.15.751720v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-15",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fyjfe48fz06wq.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:51Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.15.751720",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.15.751720v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:cell biology",
      "subfield": "cell-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Calcium signals at cytoneme contacts amplify Wnt/β-catenin signalling",
  "title_text": "Calcium signals at cytoneme contacts amplify Wnt/β-catenin signalling",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:51Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fyjfe48fz06wq",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}