The long-term goal of our studies is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of cell-cell interactions during vertebrate development. This proposal focuses on the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling-pathway, which plays a key role in many developmental events. Mutations in members of the pathway are associated with the development of cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, the most prevalent cancer in Western countries, and a seemingly unrelated number of human syndromes and malformations, such as holoprosencephaly and polydactyly. Consequently, understanding how a Hh signal is received, transduced and modulated will be critical to understand how cells proliferate, differentiate or survive in response to the Hh signal, as well as how deregulated Hh signaling leads to diseases. These studies will also make it possible to perform prenatal genetic diagnosis and help design rational therapies for treating these Hh signaling-related diseases. Our general strategy is to focus on three membrane proteins, Hedgehog-interacting-protein (Hip), Patched (Ptch) and Smoothened (Smo), essential for transducing/modulating the Hh signal. The overall goals for this proposal are to define the role of Hip and Ptch in mammalian development through genetic analysis; to define the molecular interactions between Hip, Ptch and Smo in transducing/modulating Hh signal; and to identify missing components in the Hh pathway. 1. To define Hip's role in Hedgehog signaling during mammalian development. A genetic approach utilizing transgenic knockout mice will be taken to dissect the distinct and overlapping roles Hip and Ptch play in modulating Hh signaling during mammalian development. 2. To elucidate the molecular interactions between the three known components of the Hh signaling pathway, Hip, Ptch and Smo, in transducing/modulating the Hh signal. Biochemical and cell culture approaches will be taken to investigate the molecular interactions between Hip, Ptch and Smo in transducing/modulating the Hh signal. 3. To use Hh-responsive cell lines, in combination with expression cloning and candidate gene strategies, to identify missing components in the Hh signaling pathway.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL067822-02
Application #
6538054
Study Section
Cell Development and Function Integrated Review Group (CDF)
Program Officer
Pearson, Gail D
Project Start
2001-07-01
Project End
2006-06-30
Budget Start
2002-07-01
Budget End
2003-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$331,875
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Francisco
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073133571
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94143
Mak, Kinglun Kingston; Bi, Yanming; Wan, Chao et al. (2008) Hedgehog signaling in mature osteoblasts regulates bone formation and resorption by controlling PTHrP and RANKL expression. Dev Cell 14:674-88
Mak, Kinglun Kingston; Kronenberg, Henry M; Chuang, Pao-Tien et al. (2008) Indian hedgehog signals independently of PTHrP to promote chondrocyte hypertrophy. Development 135:1947-56
Gerber, A N; Wilson, C W; Li, Y-J et al. (2007) The hedgehog regulated oncogenes Gli1 and Gli2 block myoblast differentiation by inhibiting MyoD-mediated transcriptional activation. Oncogene 26:1122-36
Hu, Ming Chang; Mo, Rong; Bhella, Sita et al. (2006) GLI3-dependent transcriptional repression of Gli1, Gli2 and kidney patterning genes disrupts renal morphogenesis. Development 133:569-78
Mak, Kingston Kinglun; Chen, Miao-Hsueh; Day, Timothy F et al. (2006) Wnt/beta-catenin signaling interacts differentially with Ihh signaling in controlling endochondral bone and synovial joint formation. Development 133:3695-707
Wilson, Christopher W; Chuang, Pao-Tien (2006) New ""hogs"" in Hedgehog transport and signal reception. Cell 125:435-8
Chen, Miao-Hsueh; Gao, Nan; Kawakami, Takatoshi et al. (2005) Mice deficient in the fused homolog do not exhibit phenotypes indicative of perturbed hedgehog signaling during embryonic development. Mol Cell Biol 25:7042-53
Chen, Miao-Hsueh; Li, Ya-Jun; Kawakami, Takatoshi et al. (2004) Palmitoylation is required for the production of a soluble multimeric Hedgehog protein complex and long-range signaling in vertebrates. Genes Dev 18:641-59
Kawahira, Hiroshi; Ma, Nancy H; Tzanakakis, Emmanouhl S et al. (2003) Combined activities of hedgehog signaling inhibitors regulate pancreas development. Development 130:4871-9
Chuang, Pao-Tien; Kawcak, T'Nay; McMahon, Andrew P (2003) Feedback control of mammalian Hedgehog signaling by the Hedgehog-binding protein, Hip1, modulates Fgf signaling during branching morphogenesis of the lung. Genes Dev 17:342-7

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