Describe hedgehog pathway?

The hedgehog pathway is a signaling pathway that plays a critical role in embryonic development and tissue regeneration in animals. It is named after the hedgehog family of proteins, which are the key components of this pathway.

In the hedgehog pathway, the signaling molecule known as the hedgehog protein binds to its receptor, Patched, on the surface of target cells. This binding relieves the inhibition of another receptor, Smoothened, which then activates a series of downstream signaling events. This ultimately leads to the activation of transcription factors that regulate the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival.

Dysregulation of the hedgehog pathway has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer, where aberrant activation of the pathway can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and tumor formation. As a result, the hedgehog pathway has become a target for therapeutic intervention in cancer treatment.