Description
DKK1, Dickkopf-related protein 1, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DKK1 gene. This gene encodes a protein that is a member of the dickkopf family. By genomic sequence analysis, determined that the DKK1 gene contains 4 exons. The DKK1 gene is mapped to 10q11.2 using FISH. It is a secreted protein with two cysteine rich regions and is involved in embryonic development through its inhibition of the WNT signaling pathway. Elevated levels of DKK1 in bone marrow plasma and peripheral blood is associated with the presence of osteolytic bone lesions in patients with multiple myeloma