Description:
Tumor formation can be linked to the misregulation of the developmentally important Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. In general, Hh signaling is initiated by the secretion of Hh ligands. This is followed by the binding of Hh to the 12-pass transmembrane protein Patched (Ptch). Ptch normally represses the activity of the 7-pass transmembrane protein Smoothened (Smo). Binding of Hh to Ptch inhibits Ptch, thereby relieving the inhibition of Smo. Smo translocates into the primary cilium and mediates the activation of the members of the Glioma associated (Gli) family of transcription factors, le...