Taking the Occam's Razor Approach to Hedgehog Lipidation and Its Role in Development.

ABSTRACT: All Hedgehog (Hh) proteins signal from producing cells to distant receiving cells despite being synthesized as N-and C-terminally lipidated, membrane-tethered molecules. To explain this paradoxical situation, over the past 15 years, several hypotheses have been postulated that tie directly into this property, such as Hh transport on cellular extensions called cytonemes or on secreted vesicles called lipophorins and exosomes. The alternative situation that tight membrane association merely serves to prevent unregulated Hh solubilization has been addressed by biochemical and structural studies suggesting Hh extraction from the membrane or proteolytic Hh release. While some of these models may act in different organisms, tissues or developmental programs, others may act together to specify Hh

SUBMITTER: Manikowski D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5875562 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature