SHH Human, His

Sonic HedgeHog (SHH) is a member of the Hedgehog family of proteins, which play crucial roles in the development of various tissues and organs in both vertebrates and invertebrates. The name “Sonic HedgeHog” is derived from the popular video game character, reflecting the protein’s significant impact on developmental biology.

The recombinant human Sonic HedgeHog protein is typically produced in host cells such as HEK293 or E. coli. It is often fused with a polyhistidine tag (His Tag) at the C-terminus to facilitate purification. The His Tag allows for easy isolation of the protein using affinity chromatography techniques.

The recombinant human SHH protein consists of a specific amino acid sequence, often ranging from Cys 198 to Ser 462, and has a predicted molecular mass of approximately 29 kDa. Due to glycosylation, the apparent molecular mass can be around 35 kDa in SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions .

Sonic HedgeHog is a secreted signaling protein that is vital for guiding the early embryo. It is involved in the patterning of the ventral neural tube, the anterior-posterior limb axis, and the ventral somites. SHH binds to the patched receptor, which functions in association with smoothened, to activate the transcription of target genes. In the absence of SHH, the patched receptor represses the constitutive signaling activity of smoothened .

The production of recombinant human SHH involves the insertion of the SHH gene into an expression vector, which is then introduced into host cells. These cells are cultured under specific conditions to express the SHH protein. The protein is then purified using affinity chromatography, leveraging the His Tag for efficient isolation .

Recombinant human SHH is used in various research applications, including studies on developmental biology, cell signaling, and tissue engineering. It is also utilized in drug discovery and development, particularly in understanding and targeting pathways involved in cancer and other diseases .

Recombinant human SHH is typically provided as a lyophilized powder or a sterile filtered solution. It is stable for up to twelve months when stored at -20°C to -80°C under sterile conditions. It is recommended to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles to maintain protein integrity .