“…In addition to being an important inductive signal in embryonic development, Hh signaling is required in homeostasis of mature tissues and is also implicated in many human cancers, including endodermal derived carcinomas of the esophagus, stomach, and pancreas (Beachy et al, 2004) as well as neurodegenerative disorders (Bak et al, 2003). Although the mechanism is not completely understood, it has been shown that Hh signaling is coordinated by the primary cilium (e.g., Huangfu et al, 2003;Corbit et al, 2005;Huangfu and Anderson, 2005;May et al, 2005;Haycraft et al, 2005;Liu et al, 2005a;Koyama et al, 2007;Vierkotten et al, 2007;Ruiz-Perez et al, 2007;Caspary et al, 2007;Rohatgi et al, 2007;Kiprilov et al, 2008). Regulation of the Hh pathway is complex with Hh responsive Gli transcription factors having either activator or repressor functions that depend on IFT proteins.…”