Notch signaling in the mammalian central nervous system: insights from mouse mutants.
The Notch pathway, although originally identified in fruit flies, is now among the most heavily studied in mammalian biology. In mice, loss-of-function and gain-of-function work has demonstrated that Notch signaling is essential both during development and in the adult in a multitude of tissues. Prominent among these is the CNS, where Notch has been implicated in processes ranging from neural stem cell regulation to learning and memory. Here we review the role of Notch in the mammalian CNS by focusing specifically on mutations generated in mice. These mutations have provided critical insight into Notch function in the CNS and have led to the identification of promising new directions that are likely to generate important discoveries in the future.
Yoon
Keejung
K
Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Gaiano
Nicholas
N
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C497761:NOTCH1 protein, human; C497762:Notch1 protein, mouse; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014157:Transcription Factors