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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

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Cell Aggregation Assays to Evaluate the Binding of the Drosophila Notch with Trans-Ligands and its Inhibition by Cis-Ligands
Published on: January 2, 2018
The many facets of Notch ligands
B D'Souza1, A Miyamoto, G Weinmaster
1Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737, USA.
Oncogene
|September 2, 2008
Summary
Notch ligands are key regulators of cell processes. This review explores how Notch ligands act as agonists and antagonists, detailing their molecular mechanisms and intrinsic signaling roles.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- The Notch signaling pathway is crucial for cell communication and development.
- Notch ligands, both canonical and noncanonical, mediate signaling.
- Understanding ligand function is vital due to their role in diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the molecular mechanisms of Notch ligand function.
- To explore how ligands act as agonists and antagonists.
- To discuss intrinsic ligand signaling and regulation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of molecular mechanisms.
- Analysis of ligand activation modes.
- Examination of post-translational modifications and interactions.
Main Results:
- Notch ligands exhibit agonist and antagonist roles.
- Intrinsic ligand signaling activity, independent of Notch, is supported.
- Post-translational modifications and cellular processes influence ligand function.
- Regulation by other pathways integrates Notch signaling.
Conclusions:
- Notch ligands possess multifaceted roles beyond canonical signaling.
- Intrinsic ligand activities and regulatory mechanisms are critical.
- Understanding Notch ligands is essential for human health and disease research.
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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...
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