title: Cell fate and organogenesis in bacteria.
abstract: Intercellular signaling through the Notch receptor and its ligands leads to the spatial differentiation of cell fate in vertebrates and invertebrates. In Myxococcus xanthus, fruiting-body development requires the transmission of a cell-bound intercellular signal by the protein called C-factor, which is functionally equivalent to the eukaryotic Notch ligands. Functional parallels between these two signaling systems include strong positive and negative feedback, and a consequent role in spatial differentiation. Consideration of these parallels enables us to make testable experimental predictions about Notch and C-signaling.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, Beckman Center, B300, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5329, USA. luttman@cmgm.stanford.edu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaiser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D016941:Myxococcus xanthus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D051880:Receptors, Notch
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C063576:CsgA protein, Myxococcus xanthus; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch