Hedgehog nanopackages ready for dispatch.
Hedgehog proteins are intercellular long-range signaling molecules that spread within tissues and activate gene expression during development. Vyas et al. (2008) propose that Hedgehog forms nanometer-sized oligomers that localize in proteoglycan-rich clusters at the surface of cells expressing Hedgehog. This nanoscale organization and enrichment in clusters ensures that Hedgehog is able to spread and activate signaling over many cell diameters.
Vincent
Jean-Paul
JP
MRC National Institute of Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK. jvincen@nimr.mrc.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans