{"type": "root", "children": [{"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\nThe Hedgehog signaling pathway is critical for processes such as pattern formation, cell fate determination, and the regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation. One study identified Ptchd3—a gene encoding a Patched-domain protein—as a novel male germ cell–specific gene with two developmentally regulated isoforms, whose mRNA is exclusively found in testicular tissue. Notably, the Ptchd3 protein localizes to the midpiece of sperm in mouse, rat, and humans, suggesting that it may participate in hedgehog-mediated regulation of sperm development and/or function."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "1"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "Dissecting the gene’s role further, a subsequent investigation using a Ptchd3 knockout mouse model revealed that, despite the protein’s conserved domain and proposed function as a hedgehog receptor, its absence neither disrupts mouse development and spermatogenesis nor alters the expression of other hedgehog signaling components. These findings imply that Ptchd3 is not essential for reproductive function in mice, possibly reflecting functional redundancy within the hedgehog signaling network."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "2"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "A distinct line of inquiry focused on long noncoding RNAs in ocular health identified myocardial infarction-associated transcript neighbor (MIATNB) as a modulator of cellular stress. In a human corneal epithelial cell–based model of dry eye disease, MIATNB was shown to influence hyperosmolarity-induced autophagy and apoptosis, thereby contributing to the regulation of cellular homeostasis and survival under conditions of environmental stress."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "3"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ""}]}, {"type": "rg", "children": [{"type": "r", "ref": 1, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Jun Fan, Hiroto Akabane, Xuehai Zheng, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Male germ cell-specific expression of a novel Patched-domain containing gene Ptchd3."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2007)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.09.047"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.09.047"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "17904097"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17904097"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 2, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Shaimar R González Morales, Chengjing Liu, Heath Blankenship, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Mouse Ptchd3 is a non-essential gene."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Gene (2020)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1016/j.gene.2020.100032"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2020.100032"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "34493359"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34493359"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 3, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Xinghui Pan, Kun Yang, Jinjian Li, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Long Noncoding RNA "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "i"}], "href": "i"}, {"type": "t", "text": "MIATNB"}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "/i"}], "href": "/i"}, {"type": "t", "text": " Regulates Hyperosmotic Stress-induced Corneal Epithelial Cell Injury by Inhibiting Autophagy in Dry Eye Disease."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Curr Eye Res (2023)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1080/02713683.2023.2222237"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1080/02713683.2023.2222237"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "37317543"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37317543"}]}]}]}