PTCH1 also known as Patched 1 is a member of the patched family of proteins and a component of the hedgehog signaling pathway. PTCH1 plays a crucial role in the hedgehog signaling pathway, which regulates cell growth and differentiation during embryonic development. Patched functions as a receptor that inhibits hedgehog protein activity, controlling the expression of downstream targets, including the Wnt family of proteins. This regulation is vital because aberrations in hedgehog signaling, often due to mutations in the patched gene, can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and are implicated in various cancers. The interaction between patched and Sonic hedgehog highlights the complexity of this signaling pathway, as patched 2, another family member, has been found to be coexpressed with Sonic hedgehog, suggesting a nuanced regulatory mechanism that could be targeted for therapeutic interventions.