The role of neuroblasts in the development of the Drosophila larval/adult brain has served as a model for the role of adult neural stem cells in normal neural development and in tumor formation. This report describes a neural stem cell cancer model using overexpression of the Drosophila Notch (N) gene in larval neuroblasts. In constructs of Notch lacking its extracellular domain the functional intracellular domain (NICD) is constitutively active. An NICD construct expressed in larval neuroblasts results in extensive neural stem cell hyperplasias, often resulting in larval lethality. When larval brain lobes or ventral nerve cords with such hyperplasias are transplanted into adult hosts, tumorous growth is observed.
See the Human Disease Model report 'cancer, multiple, Notch signaling pathway' (FBhh0000766).
[updated Sep. 2021 by FlyBase; FBrf0222196]
Moderate- to high-scoring ortholog of human NOTCH1, NOTCH2, NOTCH3, NOTCH4 (1 Drosophila to 4 human). Dmel\N shares 43-44% identity and 56-57% similarity with NOTCH1 and NOTCH2.