Indian hedgehog homolog (Drosophila), also known as IHH, is a protein

Protein

Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

 which in humans is encoded by the IHH gene

Gene

A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...

.

Function

The Indian Hedgehog protein is one of three protein

Protein

Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

s in the mammalian hedgehog family, the others being desert hedgehog

DHH (hedgehog)

Desert hedgehog homolog , also known as DHH is a human gene. The protein encoded by this gene is involved in cell signaling. It is named for the Desert Hedgehog.-Function:...

 (DHH) and Sonic hedgehog

Sonic hedgehog

Sonic hedgehog homolog is one of three proteins in the mammalian signaling pathway family called hedgehog, the others being desert hedgehog and Indian hedgehog . SHH is the best studied ligand of the hedgehog signaling pathway. It plays a key role in regulating vertebrate organogenesis, such as...

 (SHH). It is involved in chondrocyte

Chondrocyte

Chondrocytes are the only cells found in cartilage. They produce and maintain the cartilaginous matrix, which consists mainly of collagen and proteoglycans...

 differentiation, proliferation and maturation especially during endochondral ossification

Endochondral ossification

Endochondral ossification is one of the two essential processes during fetal development of the mammalian skeletal system by which bone tissue is created. Unlike intramembranous ossification, which is the other process by which bone tissue is created, cartilage is present during endochondral...

. It regulates its effects by feedback control of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP).

Further reading