Smoothened Agonist Exposure: A Potent Trigger for Murine Craniofacial Defects

A new study reveals that hyperactivating the Hedgehog pathway with Smoothened Agonist (SAG) causes significant craniofacial development defects in mice. By disrupting cell proliferation and cell-cycle progression during a critical window, SAG exposure leads to cleft lip and other cranial abnormalities.