Smoothened

Smoothened (Smo) is a protein that plays a crucial role in the Hedgehog signaling pathway, which is essential for proper development and tissue maintenance. It acts as a receptor-like molecule that transmits signals inside cells when the Hedgehog ligand binds to its primary receptor. When activated, Smoothened triggers a cascade of events leading to gene expression changes, influencing cell growth and differentiation. In healthy tissues, this process is tightly regulated. However, when Smoothened becomes overactive or mutated, it can lead to abnormal cell proliferation and is associated with certain cancers, making it a target for specific therapeutic drugs.