Conservation of the hedgehog/patched signaling pathway from flies to mice: induction of a mouse patched gene by Hedgehog.

TLDR

Hedgehog signaling regulates cell fate and tissue polarity in flies and vertebrates, acting through the Patched receptor. A mouse Patched homolog is expressed adjacent to Sonic or Indian hedgehog–producing cells, and ectopic Sonic hedgehog induces its transcription, supporting a conserved hedgehog/Patched signaling pathway in mammals.

Abstract

The signaling protein Hedgehog (Hh) controls cell fate and polarizes tissues in both flies and vertebrates. In flies, Hh exerts its effects by opposing the function of a novel transmembrane protein, Patched, while also locally inducing patched (ptc) transcription. We have identified a mouse homolog of ptc which in many tissues is transcribed near cells making either Sonic or Indian hedgehog. In addition, ectopic Sonic hedgehog expression in the mouse central nervous system induces ptc transcription. As in flies, mouse ptc transcription appears to be indicative of hedgehog signal reception. The results support the existence of a conserved signaling pathway used for pattern formation in insects and mammals.