SAG (Smoothened Agonist) is an effective Smo receptor agonist. SAG activates the Hedgehog signaling pathway. SAG induces firefly luciferase expression in Shh-LIGHT2 cells with an EC50 of 3nM. In Cos-1 cells expressing Smo, SAG has a Kd of 59nM for the SAG/Smo complex[1-3].
SAG (250nM; 24h) promotes migration of MDA-MB-231 cells[4]. SAG(1μM; 6 days) treatment rescues mitochondrial dysfunction in FXN-deficient astrocytes[5].
SAG(15-20mg/kg;ip) generally induces preaxial polydactylism in a dose-dependent manner in mice[6]. SAG(20μg/g body weight; i.p; 3 times) restores Shh(Sonic hedgehog) signaling, leading to the rescue of BBB function in HIV-infected, humanized mice[7].
References:
[1]. Chen JK, Taipale J, et,al. Small molecule modulation of Smoothened activity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Oct 29;99(22):14071-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.182542899. Epub 2002 Oct 21. PMID: 12391318; PMCID: PMC137838.
[2]. Bragina O, Sergejeva S, et,al. Smoothened agonist augments proliferation and survival of neural cells. Neurosci Lett. 2010 Sep 27;482(2):81-5. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2010.06.068. Epub 2010 Jul 1. PMID: 20600593.
[3]. Stanton BZ, Peng LF, et,al. A small molecule that binds Hedgehog and blocks its signaling in human cells. Nat Chem Biol. 2009 Mar;5(3):154-6. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.142. Epub 2009 Jan 18. PMID: 19151731; PMCID: PMC2770933.
[4]. Guerrini G, Criscuoli M, et,al. Inhibition of smoothened in breast cancer cells reduces CAXII expression and cell migration. J Cell Physiol. 2018 Dec;233(12):9799-9811. doi: 10.1002/jcp.26947. Epub 2018 Aug 21. PMID: 30132883.
[5]. Vicente-Acosta A, Giménez-Cassina A, et,al. The smoothened agonist SAG reduces mitochondrial dysfunction and neurotoxicity of frataxin-deficient astrocytes. J Neuroinflammation. 2022 Apr 12;19(1):93. doi: 10.1186/s12974-022-02442-w. PMID: 35413853; PMCID: PMC9006607.
[6]. Fish EW, Parnell SE et,al. Preaxial polydactyly following early gestational exposure to the smoothened agonist, SAG, in C57BL/6J mice. Birth Defects Res. 2017 Jan 20;109(1):49-54. doi: 10.1002/bdra.23571. PMID: 27801979; PMCID: PMC5388559.
[7]. Singh VB, Singh MV, et,al. Smoothened Agonist Reduces Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Breakdown in Humanized Mice. Sci Rep. 2016 May 31;6:26876. doi: 10.1038/srep26876. PMID: 27241024; PMCID: PMC4886511.
















