Gli Proteins: Regulation in Development and Cancer

• Published in: Cells (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 8; no. 2; p. 147
• Main Authors: Niewiadomski, Paweł, Niedziółka, Sylwia M, Markiewicz, Łukasz, Uśpieński, Tomasz, Baran, Brygida, Chojnowska, Katarzyna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 11.02.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Binding sites; Cancer; Cilia - metabolism; Congenital defects; developmental signaling; DNA methylation; Embryonic Development; Gli protein; Gli proteins; Hedgehog protein; Hedgehog Proteins - metabolism; Hedgehog signaling; Humans; Insects; Kinases; Ligands; Localization; Mammals; Molecular modelling; morphogen signaling; Mutation; Neoplasms - metabolism; nuclear import; Phosphorylation; posttranslational modifications; primary cilia; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Proteins; Repressors; Review; Signal transduction; Trans-Activators - metabolism; Transcription; Transcription factors; posttranslational modifications; primary cilia; Hedgehog signaling; morphogen signaling; cancer; developmental signaling; nuclear import; Gli proteins
• ISSN: 2073-4409; 2073-4409
• DOI: 10.3390/cells8020147

Gli proteins are transcriptional effectors of the Hedgehog signaling pathway. They play key roles in the development of many organs and tissues, and are deregulated in birth defects and cancer. We review the molecular mechanisms of Gli protein regulation in mammals, with special emphasis on posttranslational modifications and intracellular transport. We also discuss how Gli proteins interact with co-activators and co-repressors to fine-tune the expression of Hedgehog target genes. Finally, we provide an overview of the regulation of developmental processes and tissue regeneration by Gli proteins and discuss how these proteins are involved in cancer progression, both through canonical regulation via the Hedgehog pathway and through cross-talk with other signaling pathways.