Smo Inhibitors

Smo (Smoothened) inhibitors belong to a class of compounds designed to modulate the activity of the Smoothened protein, a crucial component of the Hedgehog signaling pathway. The Hedgehog pathway plays a pivotal role in embryonic development, tissue regeneration, and maintenance of adult tissue homeostasis. Smoothened, a G-protein-coupled receptor-like protein, serves as a key transducer of the Hedgehog signaling cascade. In its active state, Smoothened triggers downstream events that regulate gene expression and cellular responses, impacting processes such as cell differentiation, proliferation, and migration. Smo inhibitors are developed to exert control over the Hedgehog pathway by selectively targeting Smoothened's activity. By doing so, these inhibitors modulate the intricate signaling network that guides various cellular processes. The discovery and study of Smo inhibitors provide insights into the intricate regulatory mechanisms of Hedgehog signaling and its relevance to developmental and disease-related processes.