Patent ID: 7829333

Claim:
An in vitro method for inhibiting hedgehog-induced expression of a target gene, the method comprising: inhibiting with a PP2A phosphatase inhibitor, in vitro, and in the presence of hedgehog, the activity of a PP2A phosphatase that dephosphorylates a transcription factor that interacts with a hedgehog response element, wherein inhibiting the activity of the PP2A phosphatase increases the phosphorylation of the transcription factor, wherein the hedgehog response element is operatively associated with the target gene, and wherein the hedgehog response element is selected from the group consisting of a Ci-response element, a Gli-response element, and a sonic hedgehog response element, thereby decreasing hedgehog-induced binding of the transcription factor to the hedgehog response element, whereby hedgehog-induced expression of the target gene is inhibited.