The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays a central role in specifying the embryonic patterning of metazoan organs. Post-embryonically, Hh signaling mediates homeostatic regeneration of adult tissues and is associated with numerous cancers when inappropriately active. Despite its importance in development, physiology, and disease we fundamentally do not understand how the extracellular Hedgehog signal is transduced across the membrane. The central question is the mechanism by which the Hh receptor Patched (Ptc;Ptch1 in mammals), a transporter-like protein, acts to regulate Smoothened (Smo), a member of the seven transmembrane protein family. From flatworms to insects to mammals, Ptc inhibits Smo activity in the absence of Hh, and thisinhibition is lifted upon Hh binding to Ptc and its co-receptors, thu releasing Smo for pathway activation through a series of downstream events and consequent changes in gene transcription. Mechanistically, Ptch1 is thought to act as a proton-dependent transmembrane transporter of a lipidic modulator of Smo activity across the membrane, but this modulator remains to be identified. In addition, mammalian Hh signal transduction has been linked to the primary cilium, but the actual role of the primary cilium in transduction is not understood. To elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of Hh receptor function in the cilium we propose to define intrinsic sequence requirements and cellular factors required for Ptch1/Smo ciliary trafficking and signal transduction, focusing in particular on signals and factors that are regulated by Hh pathway activity. We will identify endogenous small molecules that mediate Ptch1 regulation of Smo activity, having initially identified Chlamydomonas flagella as an enriched source of such a modulatory lipid. We will test whether Ptch1 functions as a transmembrane transporter that depends on a chemiosmotic gradient and investigate the effects of Ptch1 function on the dynamics of Smo ciliary trafficking. Our findings will be integrated into a detailed cellular and molecular account of Hh signal transduction, and may provide a basis for improvements in therapies for Hh pathway-dependent cancers.

Public Health Relevance

We propose a multi-disciplinary approach to address the question of how presence of the extracellular Hedgehog protein signal is transmitted across the cell membrane by the Patched and Smoothened components. Our findings will illuminate the causes of and possible therapies for birth defects and neoplastic growth associated with derangements of Hedgehog pathway regulation and activity.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM102498-03
Application #
8640198
Study Section
Molecular and Integrative Signal Transduction Study Section (MIST)
Program Officer
Dunsmore, Sarah
Project Start
2012-08-15
Project End
2016-03-31
Budget Start
2014-04-01
Budget End
2015-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$298,300
Indirect Cost
$108,300
Name
Stanford University
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
009214214
City
Stanford
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94305
Zhang, Yunxiao; Bulkley, David P; Xin, Yao et al. (2018) Structural Basis for Cholesterol Transport-like Activity of the Hedgehog Receptor Patched. Cell 175:1352-1364.e14
Myers, Benjamin R; Neahring, Lila; Zhang, Yunxiao et al. (2017) Rapid, direct activity assays for Smoothened reveal Hedgehog pathway regulation by membrane cholesterol and extracellular sodium. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:E11141-E11150
Sever, Navdar; Mann, Randall K; Xu, Libin et al. (2016) Endogenous B-ring oxysterols inhibit the Hedgehog component Smoothened in a manner distinct from cyclopamine or side-chain oxysterols. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:
Ally, Mina S; Ransohoff, Katherine; Sarin, Kavita et al. (2016) Effects of Combined Treatment With Arsenic Trioxide and Itraconazole in Patients With Refractory Metastatic Basal Cell Carcinoma. JAMA Dermatol 152:452-6
Kim, Jynho; Hsia, Elaine Y C; Brigui, Amira et al. (2015) The role of ciliary trafficking in Hedgehog receptor signaling. Sci Signal 8:ra55
Oh, Sekyung; Kato, Masaki; Zhang, Chi et al. (2015) A Comparison of Ci/Gli Activity as Regulated by Sufu in Drosophila and Mammalian Hedgehog Response. PLoS One 10:e0135804
Chong, Yong Chun; Mann, Randall K; Zhao, Chen et al. (2015) Bifurcating action of Smoothened in Hedgehog signaling is mediated by Dlg5. Genes Dev 29:262-76
Strating, Jeroen R P M; van der Linden, Lonneke; Albulescu, Lucian et al. (2015) Itraconazole inhibits enterovirus replication by targeting the oxysterol-binding protein. Cell Rep 10:600-15
Kim, Jynho; Hsia, Elaine Y C; Kim, James et al. (2014) Simultaneous measurement of smoothened entry into and exit from the primary cilium. PLoS One 9:e104070
Kim, James; Aftab, Blake T; Tang, Jean Y et al. (2013) Itraconazole and arsenic trioxide inhibit Hedgehog pathway activation and tumor growth associated with acquired resistance to smoothened antagonists. Cancer Cell 23:23-34

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