Novel hedgehog-derived polypeptides
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
InventorsPhilip A. Beachy, Jeffrey A. Porter
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Abstract
The present invention provides two novel polypeptides, referred to as the “N” and “C” fragments of hedgehog, or N-terminal and C-terminal fragments, respectively, which are derived after specific cleavage at a G↓CF site recognized by the autoproteolytic domain in the native protein. Also included are sterol-modified hedgehog polypeptides and functional fragments thereof. Methods of identifying compositions which affect hedgehog activity based on inhibition of cholesterol modification of hedgehog protein are described.
Claims9
A substantially pure polypeptide characterized by having an amino acid sequence of a hedgehog polypeptide or a fragment derived from amino terminal amino acids of a hedgehog polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide or fragment thereof comprises a sterol moiety.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.