Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Live-cell Imaging of Sensory Organ Precursor Cells in Intact Drosophila Pupae
Published on: May 27, 2011
The Enhancer of split complex of Drosophila melanogaster harbors three classes of Notch responsive genes
1Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Genetik (240), 70593, Stuttgart, Germany.
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 ma 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.
Related Concept Videos
Position-effect Variegation
Cis-regulatory Sequences
Master Transcription Regulators
Exon Recombination
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...

