Hedgehog signaling in humans: the HH_Signal_pathway_db knowledge base

   The rapid advancement of omics technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) and other high-throughput methods for experimental studies of molecular genetic systems and processes has led to the generation of an unprecedentedly vast amount of heterogeneous and complex biological data. Effective use of this information resource requires systematic approaches to its analysis. One such approach involves the creation of domain-specific knowledge/data repositories that integrate information from multiple sources. This not only enables the storage and structuring of heterogeneous data distributed across various resources but also facilitates the acquisition of new insights into biological systems and processes. A systematic approach is also critical to solving the fundamental problem of biology – clarifying the regularities of morphogenesis. Morphogenesis is regulated through evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways (Hedgehog, Wnt, Notch, etc.). The Hedgehog (HH) pathway plays a key role in this process, as it begins functioning earlier than others in ontogenesis and determines the progression of every stage of an organism’s life cycle: from structuring embryonic primordia, histo- and organogenesis, to maintaining tissue homeostasis and regeneration in adults. Our work presents HH_Signal_pathway_db, a knowledge base that integrates curated data on the molecular components and functional roles of the human Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway. The first release of the database (available upon request at bukharina@bionet.nsc.ru) contains information on 56 genes, their protein products, the regulatory interaction network, and established associations with pathological conditions in humans. HH_Signal_pathway_db provides researchers with a tool for gaining new knowledge about the role of the Hedgehog pathway in health and disease, and its potential applications in developmental biology and translational medicine.

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