F
IPR001657

Hedgehog protein

InterPro entry
Short nameHedgehog

Description

Hedgehog proteins are a family of secreted signal molecules required for embryonic cell differentiation. They are synthesised as inactive precursors with an N-terminal signalling domain linked to a C-terminal autoprocessing domain. The three-dimensional structure of the autolytic domain of the hedgehog protein of shows similarity with the β-strand core of intein splicing domains. It has hence been termed the hint (Hedgehog/Intein) domain
[2]
.

The activated hedgehog protein is involved in segment polarity and cell to cell communication, and plays important roles in both early embryogenesis and metamorphosis
[1, 3, 5, 4]
. The protein is expressed in embryo stripes
[1]
, and in several groups of cells belonging to the foregut, hindgut and various other unidentified tissues. Maximum expression is seen in embryos 6-12 hours after fertilisation, and in pupae 1-24 hours after puparium formation.

References

1.Structure and expression of hedgehog, a Drosophila segment-polarity gene required for cell-cell communication. Tashiro S, Michiue T, Higashijima S, Zenno S, Ishimaru S, Takahashi F, Orihara M, Kojima T, Saigo K. Gene 124, 183-9, (1993). View articlePMID: 8166882

2.Protein splicing of inteins and hedgehog autoproteolysis: structure, function, and evolution. Perler FB. Cell 92, 1-4, (1998). View articlePMID: 9489693

3.Molecular organization and embryonic expression of the hedgehog gene involved in cell-cell communication in segmental patterning of Drosophila. Mohler J, Vani K. Development 115, 957-71, (1992). View articlePMID: 1280560

4.The Drosophila hedgehog gene is expressed specifically in posterior compartment cells and is a target of engrailed regulation. Tabata T, Eaton S, Kornberg TB. Genes Dev. 6, 2635-45, (1992). View articlePMID: 1340474

5.Secretion and localized transcription suggest a role in positional signaling for products of the segmentation gene hedgehog. Lee JJ, von Kessler DP, Parks S, Beachy PA. Cell 71, 33-50, (1992). View articlePMID: 1394430

GO terms

molecular function

  • None

cellular component

  • None
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