Evolving Roles of Notch Signaling in Cortical Development

Fang-Shin Nian; Pei-Shan Hou

doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.844410

Evolving Roles of Notch Signaling in Cortical Development

Front Neurosci. 2022 Mar 29:16:844410. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.844410. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Fang-Shin Nian^{1

2}, Pei-Shan Hou^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Institute of Brain Science, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Abstract

Expansion of the neocortex is thought to pave the way toward acquisition of higher cognitive functions in mammals. The highly conserved Notch signaling pathway plays a crucial role in this process by regulating the size of the cortical progenitor pool, in part by controlling the balance between self-renewal and differentiation. In this review, we introduce the components of Notch signaling pathway as well as the different mode of molecular mechanisms, including trans- and cis-regulatory processes. We focused on the recent findings with regard to the expression pattern and levels in regulating neocortical formation in mammals and its interactions with other known signaling pathways, including Slit-Robo signaling and Shh signaling. Finally, we review the functions of Notch signaling pathway in different species as well as other developmental process, mainly somitogenesis, to discuss how modifications to the Notch signaling pathway can drive the evolution of the neocortex.

Keywords: DLL; HES; Notch; cortical development; cortical evolution; neurogenesis.

Publication types

Review