Smoothened (SMO) is a G protein-coupled receptor that interacts with patched protein (PTCH) to mediate hedgehog signaling. Upon sonic hedgehog (SHH) binding to PTCH, PTCH inhibition of SMO is relieved, activating SMO. Active SMO sequesters protein kinase A catalytic subunit (PRKACA) at the cell membrane, blocking PRKACA-mediated phosphorylation of GLI transcription factors. This releases GLI proteins from inhibition, enabling transcriptional activation of hedgehog pathway target genes.
SMO is essential for the accumulation of KIF7, GLI2, and GLI3 within cilia, critical for pathway activation. It interacts with DLG5 at the ciliary base to recruit KIF7 and GLI2 to the ciliary tip, facilitating GLI2 activation and ensuring proper hedgehog signaling and downstream gene regulation.
| Product Name | Recombinant Human Smoothened Protein |
| Accession | Q99835 |
| Host Species | Human |
| Gene | SMO |
| Source | Wheat germ |
