Biomedical subjects

P Beatus

Publications and source records attributed to P Beatus.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

The origin of the ankyrin repeat region in Notch intracellular domains is critical for regulation of HES promoter activity.

Notch signal transduction is mediated by proteolysis of the receptor and translocation of the intracellular domain (IC) into the nucleus, where it functions as a regulator of HES gene expression after binding to the DNA-binding protein RBP-J kappa. The mammalian Notch receptors are structurally very similar, but have distinct functions. Most notably, Notch 1 IC is a potent activator of the HES promoter, while Notch 3 IC is a much weaker activator and can repress Notch 1 IC-mediated HES activation in certain contexts. In this report we explore the molecular basis for this functional difference between Notch 1 and Notch 3 IC. We find that Notch 3 IC, like Notch 1 IC, can bind the SKIP and PCAF proteins. Furthermore, both Notch 1 and Notch 3 ICs displace the co-repressor SMRT from the DNA-binding protein RBP-J kappa on the HES promoter. The latter observation suggests that both Notch 3 IC and Notch 1 IC can access RBP-J kappa in vivo, and that the difference in activation capacity instead stems from structural differences in the two ICs when positioned on RBP-J kappa. We show that two distinct regions in the Notch IC are critical for the difference between the Notch 1 and Notch 3 IC. First, the origin of the ankyrin repeat region is important, i.e. only chimeric ICs containing a Notch 1-derived ankyrin repeat region are potent activators. Second, we identify a novel important region in the Notch IC. This region, named the RE/AC region (for repression/activation), is located immediately C-terminal to the ankyrin repeat region, and is required for Notch 1 IC's ability to activate and for Notch 3 IC's ability to repress a HES promoter. The interplay between the RE/AC region and the ankyrin repeat region provides a basis to understand the difference in HES activation between structurally similar Notch receptors.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

PubMed1999

Notch signalling controls pancreatic cell differentiation.

The pancreas contains both exocrine and endocrine cells, but the molecular mechanisms controlling the differentiation of these cell types are largely unknown. Despite their endodermal origin, pancreatic endocrine cells share several molecular characteristics with neurons, and, like neurons in the central nervous system, differentiating endocrine cells in the pancreas appear in a scattered fashion within a field of progenitor cells. This indicates that they may be generated by lateral specification through Notch signalling. Here, to test this idea, we analysed pancreas development in mice genetically altered at several steps in the Notch signalling pathway. Mice deficient for Delta-like gene 1 (Dll1) or the intracellular mediator RBP-Jkappa showed accelerated differentiation of pancreatic endocrine cells. A similar phenotype was observed in mice over-expressing neurogenin 3 (ngn 3) or the intracellular form of Notch3 (a repressor of Notch signalling). These data provide evidence that ngn3 acts as proendocrine gene and that Notch signalling is critical for the decision between the endocrine and progenitor/exocrine fates in the developing pancreas.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

The notch 3 intracellular domain represses notch 1-mediated activation through Hairy/Enhancer of split (HES) promoters.

The Notch signaling pathway is important for cellular differentiation. The current view is that the Notch receptor is cleaved intracellularly upon ligand activation. The intracellular Notch domain then translocates to the nucleus, binds to Suppressor of Hairless (RBP-Jk in mammals), and acts as a transactivator of Enhancer of Split (HES in mammals) gene expression. In this report we show that the Notch 3 intracellular domain (IC), in contrast to all other analysed Notch ICs, is a poor activator, and in fact acts as a repressor by blocking the ability of the Notch 1 IC to activate expression through the HES-1 and HES-5 promoters. We present a model in which Notch 3 IC interferes with Notch 1 IC-mediated activation at two levels. First, Notch 3 IC competes with Notch 1 IC for access to RBP-Jk and does not activate transcription when positioned close to a promoter. Second, Notch 3 IC appears to compete with Notch 1 IC for a common coactivator present in limiting amounts. In conclusion, this is the first example of a Notch IC that functions as a repressor in Enhancer of Split/HES upregulation, and shows that mammalian Notch receptors have acquired distinct functions during evolution.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Notch and neurogenesis.

The Notch signaling pathway has during the last few years emerged as an important signaling mechanism for communication between neighboring cells. Many of the components in the Notch signaling pathway have been identified and the pathway is important for cellular differentiation in various organs, including the nervous system. The Notch pathway is pivotal for a process called lateral inhibition, which ensures that cells differentiate to distinct fates from an initially homogenous cell population. The aim of this review is to describe our current understanding of the molecular aspects of the Notch signaling pathway and to discuss its importance for nervous system development and disease.

Animals↗