Q99835

Smoothened(Smo) is a G protein-coupled receptor that interacts with the patched protein, a receptor for hedgehog proteins. Smoothened plays a critical role in the Hedgehog signaling pathway, which regulates cell growth, differentiation, and tissue patterning during embryonic development. Aberrant activation of this pathway, often due to mutations in Smoothened gene or regulatory components, has been implicated in various cancers, making Smoothened a significant target for therapeutic intervention. Smoothened recognizes a seven transmembrane receptor that transmits signals from Hedgehog ligand to downstream effectors, including GLI transcription factors, thereby influencing gene expression and cellular responses.