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Hedgehog (HH) ligands, classical morphogens that pattern embryonic tissues in all animals, are covalently coupled to two lipids-a palmitoyl group at the N terminus and a cholesteroyl group at the C terminus. While the palmitoyl group binds and inactivates Patched 1 (PTCH1), the main receptor for HH ligands, the function of the cholesterol modification has remained mysterious. Using structural and biochemical studies, along with reassessment of previous cryo-electron microscopy structures, we find that the C-terminal cholesterol attached to Sonic hedgehog (Shh) binds the first extracellular domain of PTCH1 and promotes its inactivation, thus triggering HH signaling. Molecular dynamics simulations show that this interaction leads to the closure of a tunnel through PTCH1 that serves as the putative conduit for sterol transport. Thus, Shh inactivates PTCH1 by grasping its extracellular domain with two lipidic pincers, the N-terminal palmitate and the C-terminal cholesterol, which are both inserted into the PTCH1 protein core.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/s41589-019-0370-y

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nature chemical biology

Publication Date

10/2019

Volume

15

Pages

975 - 982

Addresses

Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Keywords

NIH 3T3 Cells, Animals, Humans, Mice, Cholesterol, Gene Expression Regulation, Protein Conformation, Protein Binding, Models, Molecular, Hedgehog Proteins, HEK293 Cells, Single-Domain Antibodies, Patched-1 Receptor