Structures of CSL, Notch and Mastermind proteins: piecing together an active transcription complex

• Published in: Current opinion in structural biology Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 117 - 127
• Main Author: Kovall, Rhett A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2007
• Subjects: Animals; DNA-Binding Proteins - chemistry; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Drosophila Proteins - chemistry; Drosophila Proteins - metabolism; Kinetochores; Models, Molecular; Multiprotein Complexes - chemistry; Nuclear Proteins - chemistry; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Protein Conformation; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Receptors, Notch - chemistry; Receptors, Notch - metabolism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - chemistry; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 0959-440X; 1879-033X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2006.11.004

Notch signaling mediates communication between cells, and is essential for proper cell fate decisions in the developing embryo and the adult organism. Signaling initiates proteolytic release of the receptor Notch from the membrane, whereupon the intracellular portion of Notch (NotchIC) localizes to the nucleus and engages the DNA-binding transcription factor CSL. CSL is required for both repression and activation of Notch target genes, and is the focal point of a transcriptional switch, mediating interactions with transcriptional coregulators. Activation of transcription requires corepressor displacement from CSL by NotchIC and the recruitment of the transcriptional coactivator Mastermind to the complex. Several recently determined and exciting structures of CSL, NotchIC, and an active transcription complex composed of CSL, NotchIC and Mastermind have revealed new insights into transcriptional regulation in the Notch pathway.