A Light-Inducible Hedgehog Signaling Activator Modulates Proliferation and Differentiation of Neural Cells.

The Hedgehog signaling pathway shapes our body by regulating the proliferation and differentiation of cells. The spatial and temporal distribution pattern of its ligands finely controls the activity of the Hedgehog pathway during development. To model the control of Hedgehog signaling activities in vitro, we developed a light-inducible Hedgehog signaling activator 6-nitroveratryloxy-carbonyl Smoothened agonist (NVOC-SAG). NVOC-SAG controls the proliferation of mouse cerebellar granule neuron precursor cells and ventral and neural differentiation of human iPS cells in a light dependent manner. The compound provides a new method to control Hedgehog signaling activities.