Barolo, S., Walker, R.G., Polyanovsky, A.D., Freschi, G., Keil, T., Posakony, J.W. (2000). A Notch-independent activity of suppressor of Hairless is required for normal mechanoreceptor physiology. Cell 103(6): 957--969.
FlyBase ID
FBrf0132262
Publication Type
Research paper
Abstract
Suppressor of Hairless [Su(H)]/Lag-1/RBP-Jkappa/CBF1 is the only known transducing transcription factor for Notch receptor signaling. Here, we show that Su(H) has three distinct functions in the development of external mechanosensory organs in Drosophila: Notch-dependent transcriptional activation and a novel auto-repression function, both of which direct cell fate decisions, and a novel auto-activation function required for normal socket cell differentiation. This third phase of activity, the first known Notch-independent activation function for Su(H) in development, depends on a cell type-specific autoregulatory enhancer that is active throughout adult life and is required for proper mechanoreception. These results establish a direct link between a broadly deployed cell signaling pathway and an essential physiological function of the nervous system.
