Notch signaling

The Notch pathway is a gene regulatory pathway involved in multiple differentiation processes. The Notch cascade consists of Notch and Notch ligands, as well as intracellular proteins transmitting the Notch signal to the cell's nucleus. The Notch/Lin-12/Glp-1 receptor family was found to be involved in the specification of cell fates during development in Drosophila and C. elegans. Interestingly, the Notch signaling pathway begins to inhibit new cell growth when adolescence is reached, and keeps neural networks stable in adulthood.

• Diagram: Notch signaling in Drosophila: http://www.genome.jp/kegg/pathway/dme/dme04330.html
• Drosphila gene family: http://sdb.bio.purdue.edu/fly/aignfam/neuropro.htm