Desert Hedgehog (DHH) is a member of the highly conserved Hedgehog family of proteins, which play crucial roles in various developmental processes. The Hedgehog family includes three proteins in mammals: Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), Indian Hedgehog (IHH), and Desert Hedgehog (DHH). These proteins are involved in cell signaling pathways that regulate embryonic development, tissue patterning, and stem cell maintenance.
Desert Hedgehog (DHH) is a secreted protein that undergoes autocatalytic cleavage, resulting in two functional domains: the N-terminal signaling domain and the C-terminal autoprocessing domain. The N-terminal domain is responsible for the protein’s signaling activity, while the C-terminal domain facilitates the cleavage and attachment of cholesterol to the N-terminal domain, which is essential for its proper functioning .
The recombinant form of Desert Hedgehog (C23II) is produced in E. coli and consists of a single, non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 177 amino acids. This recombinant protein is biologically active and has been shown to induce alkaline phosphatase production in specific cell lines .
Desert Hedgehog (C23II) plays a significant role in various biological processes, including:
Recombinant Desert Hedgehog (C23II) is widely used in research to study its role in developmental biology and disease. Some of its applications include: