Acting with bone morphogenetic proteins rostrally, it differentiates floor plate cells and motor cells.
This protein is the first in a pathway that activates the Gli class of zinc finger transcription factors. It is autocatalytically cleaved by a C-terminal intene, and has palmitate added to its N-terminus so it can tether strongly to the floor plate, explaining Wolpert's French flag model for its mechanism of action. Acting with bone morphogenetic proteins rostrally, it differentiates floor plate cells and motor cells. Its mutation results in holoprosencephaly and it affects dopaminergic development. Released by the Spemann Organizer and the notochord and binding to the Patched receptor, FTP, name this morphogen protein acting ventral to the neural tube named for a video game character.
This protein is the first in a pathway that activates the Gli class of zinc finger transcription factors.
sonic hedgehog homolog (Accept shh, prompt on partial)