Ligand for members of the frizzled family of seven transmembrane receptors (Probable). Functions in the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. Required for normal embryonic kidney development, and for normal development of the urogenital tract, including uterus and part of the oviduct and the upper vagina in females, and epididymis and vas deferens in males. Activates a signaling cascade in the metanephric mesenchyme that induces tubulogenesis. Acts upstream of WNT4 in the signaling pathways that mediate development of kidney tubules and the Muellerian ducts. Plays a role in cranofacial development and is required for normal fusion of the palate during embryonic development. The WNT gene family consists of structurally related genes that 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. Study of its expression in the teratocarcinoma cell line NT2 suggests that it may be implicated in the early process of neuronal differentiation of NT2 cells induced by retinoic acid. This gene is clustered with WNT3, another family member, in the chromosome 17q21 region. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. Moderately expressed in fetal kidney and adult kidney. Also found in brain.