Enhanced efficacy of cholesterol-minus sonic hedgehog in postnatal skin.
The role of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) as a morphogen in diverse developmental settings depends on covalent addition of cholesterol. In this study, expression of Shh lacking cholesterol stimulated hair growth with greater efficacy than native Shh, suggesting that Shh acts as a chemokine rather than a morphogen in this postnatal role. Thus, a structural modification that renders a morphogen ineffective in developmental models may have distinct advantages for postnatal applications.
Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue, W401, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Howard
H
Lou
Ronald G
RG
Crystal
Philip L
PL
Leopold
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*
D018925:Chemokines; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D002784:Cholesterol