DHH (C23II) His Human

Desert HedgeHog (DHH) is a member of the Hedgehog family, which encodes signaling molecules crucial for regulating morphogenesis. The Hedgehog family includes three proteins: Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), Indian Hedgehog (IHH), and Desert Hedgehog (DHH). These proteins play vital roles in various developmental processes, including cell differentiation, tissue patterning, and organogenesis.

DHH protein is initially synthesized as a precursor that undergoes autocatalytic cleavage. This cleavage results in two distinct portions:

1. N-terminal portion: This part is soluble and contains the signaling activity.
2. C-terminal portion: This part is involved in precursor processing and covalently attaches a cholesterol moiety to the N-terminal product. This attachment restricts the N-terminal product to the cell surface, preventing it from freely diffusing throughout the organism .

DHH plays a significant role in intercellular signaling, essential for various patterning events during development. It is particularly important in:

• Male gonadal differentiation: DHH functions as a spermatocyte survival factor in the testes and is essential for testes development.
• Perineurial development: DHH is involved in the development of the perineurium, a protective sheath surrounding nerve fibers .

Defects in DHH protein have been associated with partial gonadal dysgenesis (PGD) accompanied by minifascicular polyneuropathy. These conditions highlight the critical role of DHH in normal developmental processes .

The recombinant form of DHH (C23II) is produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and is a single, non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 201 amino acids (23-198) with a molecular mass of 22.4 kDa. This recombinant protein is fused to a 24 amino acid His-tag at the N-terminus and purified using proprietary chromatographic techniques .

Formulation and Storage:

• The DHH (C23II) His solution (0.25 mg/ml) contains 20 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.5), 0.15 M NaCl, 1 mM DTT, and 10% glycerol.
• For short-term storage, it should be kept at 4°C if used within 2-4 weeks. For long-term storage, it is recommended to store it frozen at -20°C with the addition of a carrier protein (0.1% HSA or BSA) to avoid multiple freeze-thaw cycles .

Recombinant DHH (C23II) with His Tag is used in various research applications, including:

• Studying developmental biology: Understanding the role of DHH in morphogenesis and tissue patterning.
• Investigating genetic disorders: Exploring the implications of DHH defects in conditions like partial gonadal dysgenesis and minifascicular polyneuropathy.
• Protein-protein interactions: Analyzing interactions between DHH and other signaling molecules.