Characterising a new regulator of the Hedgehog pathway

Hedgehog通路对胚胎发育至关重要，其破坏会导致多器官形态发生缺陷。CI团队在小鼠、斑马鱼和果蝇中发现了一种新的刺猬信号所需的基因。初步数据暗示了这种新基因的机制，并表明它实际上可能是一个新的超级家族的成员。该项目将使用斑马鱼、果蝇和基于细胞的模型，检查基因功能并识别相互作用的蛋白质伙伴。这些发现将提供关于这个神秘基因的基本知识，并揭示它如何调节胚胎发育的一个重要途径。这项研究预计将影响知识的产生、健康和福祉。

The Hedgehog pathway is crucial for embryonic development, and disruption causes multi-organ morphogenesis defects. The CI team has uncovered a new gene required for Hedgehog signalling in mouse, zebrafish, and Drosophila. Preliminary data hints at mechanism for this novel gene and shows it may in fact be a member of a new superfamily. The project will examine gene function and identify interacting protein partners, using the zebrafish, Drosophila, and cell-based models. Findings will provide basic knowledge about this mysterious gene and uncover how it modulates an essential pathway in embryonic development. This research is expected to impact knowledge generation, health, and well-being.