title: Notch: A multi-functional integrating system of microenvironmental signals.
abstract: The Notch signaling cascade is an evolutionarily ancient system that allows cells to interact with their microenvironmental neighbors through direct cell-cell interactions, thereby directing a variety of developmental processes. Recent research is discovering that Notch signaling is also responsive to a broad variety of stimuli beyond cell-cell interactions, including: ECM composition, crosstalk with other signaling systems, shear stress, hypoxia, and hyperglycemia. Given this emerging understanding of Notch responsiveness to microenvironmental conditions, it appears that the classical view of Notch as a mechanism enabling cell-cell interactions, is only a part of a broader function to integrate microenvironmental cues. In this review, we summarize and discuss published data supporting the idea that the full function of Notch signaling is to serve as an integrator of microenvironmental signals thus allowing cells to sense and respond to a multitude of conditions around them.
authors: Biomolecular Sciences PhD Program, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA.
authors: Bryce
authors: B
authors: LaFoya
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA.
authors: Jordan A
authors: JA
authors: Munroe
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA.
authors: Masum M
authors: MM
authors: Mia
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA.
authors: Michael A
authors: MA
authors: Detweiler
authors: Biomolecular Sciences PhD Program, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA.
authors: Jacob J
authors: JJ
authors: Crow
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA.
authors: Travis
authors: T
authors: Wood
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA.
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Roth
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors: Bikram
authors: B
authors: Sharma
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA; Biomolecular Sciences PhD Program, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA. Electronic address: allanalbig@boisestate.edu.
authors: Allan R
authors: AR
authors: Albig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment / Q000502:physiology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk / Q000502:physiology; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000502:physiology; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A