Cell proliferation control by Notch signaling in Drosophila development

• Published in: Development (Cambridge) Vol. 125; no. 11; pp. 2031 - 2040
• Main Authors: Go, M J, Eastman, D S, Artavanis-Tsakonas, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England The Company of Biologists Limited 01.06.1998
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Communication; Drosophila; Drosophila - embryology; Drosophila Proteins; Membrane Proteins - genetics; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Mitosis; Models, Biological; Morphogenesis - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - metabolism; Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism; Receptors, Notch; Suppression, Genetic; Wings, Animal - cytology; Wings, Animal - embryology; Wnt1 Protein
• ISSN: 0950-1991; 1477-9129
• DOI: 10.1242/dev.125.11.2031

The Notch receptor mediates cell interactions controlling the developmental fate of a broad spectrum of undifferentiated cells. By modulating Notch signaling in specific precursor cells during Drosophila imaginal disc development, we demonstrate that Notch activity can influence cell proliferation. The activation of the Notch receptor in the wing disc induces the expression of the wing margin patterning genes vestigial and wingless, and strong mitotic activity. However, the effect of Notch signaling on cell proliferation is not the simple consequence of the upregulation of either vestigial or wingless. Vestigial and Wingless, on the contrary, display synergistic effects with Notch signaling, resulting in the stimulation of cell proliferation in imaginal discs.