More surprises in the hedgehog signaling pathway

Article Abstract:

The Hedgehog signaling pathway is discussed in this review article which tells that new discoveries in the pathway shed light on how shaky understanding of the moleular and cellular mechanisms underlying this vital signaling pathway is. The signaling regulates a great variety of developmental events in the fly embryo and the vertebrate one and is central for several cancers. The model now widely accepted is that Hedgehog signaling leads to ligand-dependent receptor inactivation, the likely receptor encoded by the segment polarity gene, patched. The important role of cholesterol in this signaling is related to Patched, with sequestering and binding and the difference between the two of interest.

Genetic aspects, Cancer, Cancer genetics, Embryology, Experimental, Embryological research, Cells, Drosophila, Cell membranes, Cell permeability, Cell interaction, Cell interactions, Plasma membranes

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Transducing the Hedgehog signal

Article Abstract:

The Hedgehog (Hh) family of secreted signaling molecules direct a great variety of developmental events in vertebrates and Drosophila and in this minireview article, some recent studies that deal with the first transduction steps for an Hh signal are reviewed. New clues about how Smoothened (Smo) activity is regulated have been found. Smo is a transmembrane protein which can bind to Patched (Ptc), but not to Hh. It is essential for signal transduction brought on by Hh or by mutational inactivation of Ptc.

Genetic transcription, Transcription (Genetics), Phosphorylation

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Cholesterol modification of sonic hedgehog is required for long-range signaling activity and effective modulation of signaling by Ptc1

Article Abstract:

Results demonstrate that long range signaling by the sonic hedgehog is mediated by a lipophilic modification of the N-terminus with a cholesterol moiety, which aids in the sonic hedgehog's ability to signal over a few hundred microns. The lipophilic modification also modulates the signal by the sonic hedgehog's receptor, Ptc1.

Proteins, Protein structure, Polarity (Biology)

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