PMID: 29954986

Authors:

Gong X, Qian H, Cao P, Zhao X, Zhou Q, Lei J, Yan N

Title:

Structural basis for the recognition of Sonic Hedgehog by human Patched1.

Journal:

Science. 2018 Jun 28. pii: science.aas8935. doi: 10.1126/science.aas8935.

Abstract:

The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway involved in development and regeneration is activated by the extracellular binding of Hh to the membrane receptor Patched (Ptch). We report the cryo-EM structures of human Ptch1 alone and in complex with the N-terminal domain of human Sonic hedgehog (ShhN) at resolutions of 3.9 A and 3.6 A, respectively. Ptch1 comprises two interacting extracellular domains ECD1 and ECD2 and twelve transmembrane segments (TMs), with TMs 2-6 constituting the sterol-sensing domain (SSD). Two steroid-shaped densities are resolved in both structures, one enclosed by ECD1/2, and the other on the membrane-facing cavity of SSD. Structure-guided mutational analysis shows that interaction between ShhN and Ptch1 is steroid-dependent. The structure of a steroid binding-deficient Ptch1 mutant displays pronounced conformational rearrangements.