Recombinant Human DHH C23II protein

Desert Hedgehog (Dhh) belongs to the highly conserved Hedgehog family of proteins which are involved in multiple developmental processes. Desert Hedgehog is a secreted, 45 kDa, 373 amino acid protein that undergoes autocatalytic cleavage between Gly198 and Cys199 catalyzed by the C-terminal domain, which releases the N-terminal domain with a concominant attachment of cholesterol at its new C-terminus. Dhh binds both Patched and Patched 2 as well as Hedgehog interacting protein (Hip). Within the N-terminal domain, human Dhh shares 97% aa sequence identity with mouse and rat Dhh. It shares approximately 75% aa seqeuence identity with human Indian (Ihh) and Sonic Hedgehog (Shh). Dhh is expressed in the female by ovarian granulosa cells and the corporus luteum. Its upregulation in ovarian cancer correlates positively with proliferative index, and negatively with prognosis. Dhh is also expressed by Schwann cells and is upregulated following nerve injury.