Signaling Pathways and Development Flashcards
What are two unique signaling pathways regulated by proteolysis?
-play crucial roles in embryonic development
Hedgehog pathway (Hh) and Wnt pathway
Involved in maintaining stem cell niches in various tissues, including CNS, skin, and gut
Hh and Wnt
The Hh and Wnt pathways have been implicated in
Cancer and tissue repair
Diseases resulting from defects in Hh or Wnt can be either
- ) Congenital (inherited defects)
2. ) Sporadic (Somatic mutations)
What are the three members of the Hedgehog family?
- ) Indian
- ) Sonic
- ) Desert
Necessary for the development of cartilage and bone
Indian Hh (Ihh)
Necessary for the development of the central nervous system
Sonic Hh (Shh)
Important in the development of peripheral nerves
Desert Hh (Dhh)
What are the core components of the Hh pathway?
- ) Hedgehog
- ) Patched (Ptc) receptor
- ) Smoothened (Smo)
- ) Gli/Ci proteins
- ) PKA
The hedgehogs are actually
Ligands
Secreted hydrophobic proteins produced and secreted by localized groups of cells in both embryos and adults
Hedgehog (Shh, Ihh, and Dhh)
12-span transmembrane protein with homology to bacterial proton-driven transmembrane molecular transporters
-binds Hh ligands
Patched (Ptc) receptor
7-α-helix G-protein-coupled transmembrane protein
-Does not bind Hh
Smoothened (Smo)
Does the patched receptor bind Hedgehog?
Yes
Does the smoothened receptor bind Hedgehog?
No
Transcription factors that can either activate or repress target gene expression depending on signaling status
Gli/Ci proteins
Phosphorylates Gli/Ci proteins to target them for proteolysis in the proteosome
Protein Kinase A (PKA)
Partially proteolyzed protein that acts as a transcription REPRESSOR
GliREP (Ci75)
Full-length protein that functions as a transcriptional ACTIVATOR
GliACT (Ci155)
Ptc not bound to Hedgehog acts as an
Inhibitor
Ptc bound to Hedgehog acts as a
Receptor
Sonic hedgehog transduction components localize to the
Primary Cilium
Non-motile cilium that occurs singly on most cells in the vertebrate body
-critical sensors of extracellular information
Primary Cilium
Numerous cilia proteins are involved in
Hh signaling
Localize signal transduction components
Cilia
Humans with ciliary defects can have problems with
Vision, Hearing, Smell, Left-right organ location (Situs Inversus), Kidney functions, and Hh signaling
Congenital (inherited) human disorders of Hh signaling primarily affects the
Limb and CNS
Localized to “organizing centers” in the limb buds and early CNS
Sonic Hedgehog (Shh)
The ZPA morphogen
Sonic hedgehog
Sonic Hedgehog controls digit pattern by graded inhibition of
Gli3 proteolysis
Sonic hedgehog is required to inhibit the formation of
Gli3REP
Defects in this ligand lead to decreased production of Dentate Gyrus Granule Cells (a CNS stem cell)
Sonic Hedgehog
The product of over-proliferation of embryonic CNS progenitor (“stem”) cells, indicating a link between Hh signaling and stem cell proliferation/maintenance
Exencephaly
In the adult CNS, stimulating neurogenesis in resident stem cells may be of value in disorders including
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and Stroke
The congenital diseases related to abnormal Hh signaling can be grouped by effect on
Hh pathway
Can result from mutations in positive transduction pathway components
Diseases associated with reduced Hh signaling
Diseases associated with reduced Hh signaling are associated with increased
Gli3REP activity
An example of a disease associated with reduced Hh signaling is
Holoprosencephaly (HPE)
A developmental disorder mainly characterized by incomplete midline formation during forebrain development
Holoprosencephaly (HPE)