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.

中文翻译：

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光诱导的刺猬信号激活剂调节神经细胞的增殖和分化。

刺猬信号通路通过调节细胞的增殖和分化来塑造我们的身体。其配体的时空分布模式在发育过程中很好地控制了刺猬通路的活性。为了模拟体外对刺猬信号的控制，我们开发了一种光诱导性刺猬信号激活剂6-硝基veratryloxy-羰基平滑化激动剂（NVOC-SAG）。NVOC-SAG以光依赖方式控制小鼠小脑颗粒神经元前体细胞的增殖以及人iPS细胞的腹侧和神经分化。该化合物提供了控制刺猬信号活性的新方法。