Roles of Notch in Drosophila R7 Photoreceptor Development
Author Information
Author(s): Andrew Tomlinson, Yannis Emmanuel Mavromatakis, Gary Struhl
Primary Institution: Columbia University
Hypothesis
How does Notch signaling interact with receptor tyrosine kinases to specify the R7 photoreceptor in Drosophila?
Conclusion
Notch signaling has three distinct roles in specifying the R7 photoreceptor fate, including blocking differentiation and promoting the expression of the Sev receptor.
Supporting Evidence
- Notch signaling can block photoreceptor differentiation.
- Notch promotes the expression of the Sev receptor in R7 precursors.
- High levels of Notch signaling specify the R7 fate over R1/6.
Takeaway
This study shows that Notch helps decide what type of cell a developing eye cell will become, sometimes blocking it from becoming a photoreceptor and other times helping it become a specific type of photoreceptor.
Methodology
The study involved manipulating Notch and RTK signaling in Drosophila to observe effects on R7 photoreceptor specification.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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