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First published online July 27, 2006
doi: 10.1242/10.1242/dev.02472

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How does cholesterol affect the way Hedgehog works?

Franz Wendler^*, Xavier Franch-Marro^*, and Jean-Paul Vincent

MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.

Author for correspondence (e-mail: xfranch{at}nimr.mrc.ac.uk)

SUMMARY

Members of the Hedgehog (Hh) family of proteins are conserved morphogens that spread and modulate cell fates in target tissue. Mature Hh carries two lipid adducts, a palmitoyl group at the N terminus and cholesterol at the C terminus. Recent findings have addressed how these lipid modifications affect the function and transport of Hh in Drosophila. In contrast to the palmitoyl adduct, cholesterol appears not to be essential for signalling. However, the absence of the cholesterol adduct affects the spread of Hh within tissues. As we discuss here, the exact nature of this effect is controversial.

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