Rat Sonic hedgehog N-product/SHH Recombinant Protein (85-881)

Background:

Sonic Hedgehog Protein (SHH, VHH-1) belongs to hedgehog protein family which includes Indian Hh, and Desert Hh. Hh family is involved in the cell fate and patterning during embryonic development, homeostasis, and adult tissue renewal . Similar to other member in the family, SHH binds to the patched (PTC) cell surface receptor, releasing the signal transducer Smoothened (Smo) to transmit the Hh signal into the cell and activate transcription of the target gene . Precursor SHH is autocatlytically cleaved into two subunits, N-terminal and C-terminal products. Soluble N-terminal product is involved in the signaling activity, while C-product displays an autoproteolysis activity on the precursor and a cholesterol transferase activity on the N-terminal product. C-terminal product attaches a cholesterol moiety to the N-terminal product, preventing N-terminal product diffusion within the developing embryo . A defect in SHH has been linked in holoprosencephaly type 3 (HPE3), in which developing forebrain fails to separate into right and left hemispheres, and ocular coloboma .