Abstract: The present disclosure provides a genetically modified cell, wherein the cell is genetically modified such that it does not produce functional Ptch1 and Ptch2 protein. The present disclosure provides screening methods to identify agents that modulate the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway. Agents of interest include those that inhibit the Hh pathway response of Ptch1?/?; Ptch2?/? cells, and those that further induce the Hh pathway of these cells.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a vhh-1 protein, an isolated protein which is a vhh-1 protein, vectors comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a vhh-1 protein, mammalian cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to a vhh-1 protein, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting a nucleic acid molecule encoding a vhh-1 protein, pharmaceutical compositions related to the vhh-1 proteins, nonhuman transgenic animals which express a normal or a mutant vhh-1 protein. This invention further provides methods for inducing differentiation of floor plate cell, motor neuron, generating ventral neurons and treatments for alleviating abnormalities associated with the vhh-1 protein.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a vhh-1 protein, an isolated protein which is a vhh-1 protein, vectors comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a vhh-1 protein, mamunalian cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to a vhh-1 protein, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting a nucleic acid molecule encoding a vhh-1 protein, pharmaceutical compositions related to the vhh-1 proteins, nonhuman transgenic animals which express a normal or a mutant vhh-1 protein. This invention further provides methods for inducing differentiation of floor plate cell, motor neuron, generating ventral neurons and treatments for alleviating abnormalities associated with the vhh-1 protein.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a vertebrate Vhh-1 protein. The preferred embodiments are rat and human Vhh-1 protein. This invention provides purified vertebrate Vhh-1 protein and a method to purify same. This invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding a human and a rat Vhh-1 protein and the purified rat and human Vhh-1 protein encoded by same. This invention provides a vector encoding a vertebrate Vhh-1 protein and mammalian cells comprising such vectors. This invention provides antibodies directed to a vertebrate Vhh-1 protein. This invention further provides nucleic acid probes useful for detecting a nucleic acid molecule encoding a vertebrate Vhh-1 protein. This invention provides pharmaceutical compounds comprising the human Vhh-1 protein. This invention provides nonhuman transgenic animals which express DNA encoding a vertebrate Vhh-1 protein.