Fig. 7. Shh protein is processed in Disp mutant embryos. Western blot of
lysate from wild-type, Disp
E8+/-, Disp
E8-/-, Shh-/- embryos collected at 9.5 dpc
and COS7 cells transfected with expression constructs that encode either the
full-length Shh protein (Shh) or the unmodified N-terminal fragment (Shh-N)
probed with anti-Shh antibodies. Approximately equal amounts of proteins were
loaded onto each lane. Both unprocessed (Shh,.upper arrow) and processed
(Shh-Np, lower arrow) forms of Shh are detected from COS7 cells expressing the
full-length Shh and are absent in lysate from Shh mutant embryos. A
major band running at the same position as processed Shh was detected in
lysate from wild-type, Disp
E8+/- and
Disp
E8-/- embryos. The doublet observed in COS7
cells transfected with Shh-N could represent Shh-N proteins with different
lipid modifications at its N terminus. A nonspecific band (or immunoreactivity
with another Hh protein) was detected in lysates from embryos only and
conveniently serves as a loading control. A very faint band representing the
unprocessed Shh can be detected in lysates from wild-type, Disp
E8+/- and Disp
E8-/- embryos upon
longer exposure (data not shown).