Transgenic expression of Notch in melanocytes demonstrates RBP-Jκ-dependent signaling

RBP-Jκ-dependent Notch signaling enhances retinal pigment epithelial cell proliferation in transgenic mice

“…Although Notch activity might increase melanoblast and melanocyte numbers (Schouwey et al, 2010), and is capable to transform melanocytes (Pinnix et al, 2009), sustained Notch signaling activity in Tyrp1::NotchIC/1 RPE results in hyperproliferation and formation of tumors showing pigmented and unpigmented areas. Analysis of these heterogeneous tumor masses suggests that Notch signals in RPE cells might be required to maintain a proliferating and undifferentiated state.…”

“…In vivo analyses have revealed that disruption of the Notch pathway in the melanocyte lineage, by either deleting Notch1 and Notch2 receptors (Schouwey et al, 2007;Kumano et al, 2008), or the transcription factor RBP-Jk (Moriyama et al, 2006;Aubin-Houzelstein et al, 2008), results in a precocious hair graying caused by the progressive loss of the melanocyte population. Hence, RBP-Jk-dependent Notch signaling (Schouwey et al, 2010) is required for maintenance of melanoblasts and melanocyte stem cells, and thus to ensure proper hair pigmentation in mouse.…”

“…In the pigmentary system, in vitro and in vivo analyses have revealed that Notch signaling might be an important oncogenic factor at early stages of melanocytic tumor development (Pinnix et al, 2009), promoting melanoma survival, growth and progression (Liu et al, 2006), and enhancing the metastatic ability of primary melanoma cells (Balint et al, 2005). Moreover, expression of the activated NotchIC slightly increases the number of melanoblasts and melanocytes, and fully rescues the gradual decrease of pigmentation and pigment cells in mice lacking Notch signals in the melanocyte lineage (Schouwey et al, 2010).…”

Identification of Differentially Expressed miRNAs between White and Black Hair Follicles by RNA-Sequencing in the Goat (Capra hircus)

“…The Notch signaling pathway plays a key role in melanoblasts, melanocyte stem cells, keratinocytes and melanocytes [40]. Many studies reported that lack of Notch signaling can lead to the reduction of the number of melanocytes which can cause the coat color [41,42,43]. Interestingly, HOX, the Notch signaling pathway and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway interact via cross-talk [44,45].…”

A guide for building biological pathways along with two case studies: hair and breast development

“…The deletion of NOTCH1 and NOTCH2 or RBPJ in the melanocyte lineage results in the elimination of melanoblasts and melanocyte stem cells [107].…”