Hedgehog signaling: a tale of two lipids

PW Ingham - Science, 2001 - science.org
Science, 2001science.org
Hedgehog proteins constitute one of the major classes of intercellular signals that control
inductive interactions during animal development. These proteins undergo unusual lipid
modifications and signal through an unconventional transmembrane protein receptor that is
characterized by a sequence motif implicated in sterol sensing. Recent studies suggest that
the lipid adducts regulate the range and potency of the signals, whereas the sterol-sensing
domain is essential for receptor activity.
Hedgehog proteins constitute one of the major classes of intercellular signals that control inductive interactions during animal development. These proteins undergo unusual lipid modifications and signal through an unconventional transmembrane protein receptor that is characterized by a sequence motif implicated in sterol sensing. Recent studies suggest that the lipid adducts regulate the range and potency of the signals, whereas the sterol-sensing domain is essential for receptor activity.
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