Notch Signaling Pathway and its Influence on Cell Fate
Violeta Jonušienė, Kristina Bielskienė, Nadežda Lachej, Birutė Kazbarienė, Ingrida Mickė, Janina Didžiapetrienė
Various receptor systems that function to regulate cell development are found in the cell membranes. One of the most important mechanisms of cell signaling is mediated by Notch, a transmembrane receptor that coordinates a signaling system known as the Notch pathway. The Notch signaling pathway is a conserved ligand-receptor signaling pathway that plays a key role in cell proliferation, differentiation, survival or death which affects the fate of cells. The core protein components of the Notch signaling are present in metazoan organisms ranging from sea urchins to humans. Activation, inhibition or loss of Notch signaling components have been directly linked to multiple human diseases which associated with abnormalities of cellular differentiation and tissue pathology. Notch signaling pathway is frequently deregulated in several human malignances. Deregulated expression of
Notch receptors and their ligands have been found in several tumours, including breast, lung, prostate cancer etc. Notch signaling has a dual action either as oncogene or as a tumor suppressor. Moreover this signaling pathway has also been found to cross talk with multiple onco t genic signaling pathway (mTOR, Ras, WNT, NF-kB, EGFR, etc.).
Numbers of different proteins are known to modulate Notch signal transduction, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. Understanding the mechanisms of Notch signaling regulation can help with development of therapeutic approaches for treatment diseases.
Keywords: Notch receptor, Notch ligands, Notch signaling pathway and dis t eases.
