Control of Cell Morphology: Signalling by the Receptor Notch.
Abstract
The goal of our study is to understand how the Drosophila gene Notch promotes axon extension. The specific second year tasks were to finish establishing assays for Notch function by characterizing the effects of activated NOTCH proteins in various developmental contexts, and to begin localizing signaling domains of NOTCH that are required for its control of axon extension. In the past year, we have completed a detailed analysis of the roles of Notch in oogenesis and myogenesis. In each case, we have identified multiple steps at which Notch controls these processes. We have also taken advantage of evidence that the morphogenetic function of Notch may be executed via the ABL tyrosine kinase, to identify two small regions of NOTCH that are likely to be its morphogenetic control domains, by virtue of being interaction sites for ABL and associated proteins. The observation that we can disrupt Notch-dependent axon extension without perturbing cell identity strongly supports our original hypothesis that these are independent functions of Notch. This is further supported by the biochemical identification of ABL-interaction domains in NOTCH. Finally, our results provide us with unforeseen and powerful biochemical and genetic tools to advance our experimental program.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADB222576
Entities
People
- Edward Giniger