Diverse roles for the Notch receptor in the development of D. melanogaster.
Notch proteins appear to be involved in cell fate commitments with deep evolutionary roots. Homologues have been shown to play key roles in the development of nematodes, insects, amphibia, and mammals. Activity of the Notch receptor has been observed in the patterning of ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm, indicating an origin prior to the functional differentiation of these germ layers. To understand how a single receptor can participate so widely in development, we have been examining the role of specific extracellular segments of Notch. Early studies of mutations affecting widely separated EGF-like elements of Notch first raised the possibility for interaction with multiple ligands. Biochemical approaches, and exhaustive structure function studies in transgenic Drosophila are beginning to reveal how this receptor is activated, and point to a range of physical interactions with other proteins.
Young
M W
MW
Laboratory of Genetics and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, USA. Young@Rockvax.Rockefeller.edu
Wesley
C S
CS
D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*; D051880:Receptors, Notch
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C497759:N protein, Drosophila; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051880:Receptors, Notch