Elsevier

Mechanisms of Development

Volume 80, Issue 2, February 1999, Pages 171-180
Mechanisms of Development

The Enhancer of split complex of Drosophila melanogaster harbors three classes of Notch responsive genes

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Abstract

Many cell fate decisions in higher animals are based on intercellular communication governed by the Notch signaling pathway. Developmental signals received by the Notch receptor cause Suppressor of Hairless (Su(H)) mediated transcription of target genes. In Drosophila, the majority of Notch target genes known so far is located in the Enhancer of split complex (E(spl)-C), encoding small basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins that presumably act as transcriptional repressors. Here we show that the E(spl)-C contains three additional Notch responsive, non-bHLH genes: m4 and are structurally related, whilst m2 encodes a novel protein. All three genes depend on Su(H) for initiation and/or maintenance of transcription. The two other non-bHLH genes within the locus, m1 and m6, are unrelated to the Notch pathway: m1 might code for a protease inhibitor of the Kazal family, and m6 for a novel peptide.

Keywords

Drosophila
Enhancer of split
Hairy-enhancer of split like genes (mammalian) (HES)
Gene regulation
m4/mα
Notch pathway
Notch targets
Suppressor of Hairless

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