The WNT gene family consists of structurally related genes which encode secreted signaling proteins. These proteins have been implicated in oncogenesis and in several developmental processes, including regulation of cell fate and patterning during embryogenesis. This gene is a member of the WNT gene family. It encodes a protein which shows 98%, 98% and 87% amino acid identity to the mouse, rat and the xenopus Wnt5A protein, respectively. The experiments performed in Xenopus laevis embryos identified that human frizzled-5 (hFz5) is the receptor for the Wnt5A ligand and the Wnt5A/hFz5 signaling mediates axis induction. [provided by RefSeq].