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Characterization of Cell Membrane Extensions and Studying Their Roles in Cancer Cell Adhesion Dynamics
Published on: March 26, 2018
Epidermal Notch signalling: differentiation, cancer and adhesion
Fiona M Watt1, Soline Estrach, Carrie A Ambler
1Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK. fiona.watt@cancer.org.uk
Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|March 18, 2008
Summary
The Notch pathway is crucial for skin cell differentiation and acts as a tumor suppressor. Its signaling influences hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and epidermal development, impacting stem cell behavior.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The Notch pathway is vital for epidermal differentiation.
- Notch pathway components exhibit dynamic expression in skin.
- Understanding Notch signaling is key to skin development and disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of Notch signaling in epidermal differentiation.
- To investigate Notch's function in hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and interfollicular epidermis development.
- To determine Notch's role as an epidermal tumor suppressor.
Main Methods:
- Genetic manipulation (ablation and activation) of the Notch pathway.
- Analysis of Notch ligand, receptor, and effector expression patterns.
- Investigation of Notch signaling interactions with other cellular pathways.
Main Results:
- Notch signaling promotes differentiation of hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and interfollicular epidermal lineages.
- Notch acts as an epidermal tumor suppressor.
- Notch signaling operates through RBP-Jkappa dependent and independent mechanisms.
- Notch influences cell-autonomous and non-autonomous differentiation.
- Notch signaling modulates cell adhesion, affecting stem cell clustering.
Conclusions:
- The Notch pathway is a critical regulator of epidermal differentiation and development.
- Notch signaling plays a dual role in promoting differentiation and suppressing tumors.
- Notch pathway interactions are complex, involving multiple mechanisms and affecting stem cell behavior.
Related Concept Videos
03:14Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
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...
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...
03:14Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
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...
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...
01:12Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
01:19Cadherins in Tissue Organization
The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
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01:25Selectins
Cell adhesion is an essential aspect of multicellularity. While stable cell interactions usually occur between cells of the same type, transient cell interactions occur between cells of different tissue types, such as between neutrophils and endothelial cells. Selectins are one class of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that bind carbohydrate ligands to form transient cell adhesion. They are rod-like proteins with a long extracellular part of variable length ending with the lectin domain, which...
01:03Anchoring Junctions
Anchoring junctions are multiprotein complexes that help cells connect to other cells and the extracellular matrix. Anchoring junctions are present on the lateral and basal surfaces of cells, providing strong and flexible connections. Focal adhesions are often formed due to cell interactions with the ECM substrata, which initiate signal transduction via kinase cascades and other mechanisms. Together, they provide stability and tissue integrity. There are three types of anchoring junctions:...