Huangfu Danwei, Anderson Kathryn V
Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Development. 2006 Jan;133(1):3-14. doi: 10.1242/dev.02169.
Although the framework of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is evolutionarily conserved, recent studies indicate that fundamental differences exist between Drosophila and vertebrates in the way signals are transduced from the membrane protein Smoothened (Smo) to the Ci/Gli transcription factors. For example, Smo structure and the roles of fused and Suppressor of fused have diverged. Recently, many vertebrate-specific components have been identified that act between Smo and Gli. These include intra-flagellar transport proteins, which link vertebrate Hh signaling to cilia. Because abnormal Hh signaling can cause birth defects and cancer, these vertebrate-specific components may have roles in human health.
尽管刺猬索尼克（Hh）信号通路的框架在进化上是保守的，但最近的研究表明，果蝇和脊椎动物在信号从膜蛋白平滑（Smo）转导至Ci/Gli转录因子的方式上存在根本差异。例如，Smo结构以及融合基因和融合抑制因子的作用已经发生了分化。最近，已经鉴定出许多在Smo和Gli之间起作用的脊椎动物特异性成分。这些成分包括鞭毛内运输蛋白，它们将脊椎动物的Hh信号传导与纤毛联系起来。由于异常的Hh信号传导可导致出生缺陷和癌症，这些脊椎动物特异性成分可能在人类健康中发挥作用。
