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Developmental
Metazoans
Hedgehog Signaling Pathway
Morphogen gradient pathway controlling tissue patterning and stem cell maintenance.
Overview
Hedgehog binding relieves Patched (PTCH1) inhibition of Smoothened (SMO), allowing GLI transcription factor activation. Crucial for embryonic patterning and adult stem cell maintenance.
Cellular Location
Primary cilium → nucleus
Clinical Significance
Mutations cause holoprosencephaly and Gorlin syndrome; SMO inhibitors (vismodegib) approved for BCC.