Abstract: Invertebrate and vertebrate patched genes are provided, including the mouse and human patched genes, as well as methods for isolation of related genes, where the genes may be of different species or in the same family. The patched genes permit production of patched protein and production of antibodies that bind to patched proteins. Having the ability to regulate the expression of the patched gene, allows for the elucidation of embryonic development, cellular regulation associated with signal transduction by the patched gene, the identification of agonist and antagonist to signal transduction, identification of ligands for binding to patched, isolation of the ligands, and assaying for levels of transcription and expression of the patched gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of a novel erbB receptor ligand, referred to hereinafter as "cdGF", which protein has apparently broad involvement in the formation and maintenance of ordered spatial arrangements of differentiated tissues in vertebrates, and can be used to generate and/or maintain an array of different vertebrate tissue both in vitro and in vivo.