The DLL3 gene provides instructions for making a protein that helps control (regulate) the Notch pathway, an important pathway in embryonic development. The Notch pathway plays a critical role in the development of vertebrae. Specifically, the DLL3 protein and the Notch pathway are involved in separating future vertebrae from one another during early development, in a complex process called somite segmentation. Although the exact mechanism of somite segmentation is unclear, it appears to require the activity of several proteins in the Notch pathway, including the NOTCH1 protein, to be turned on and off (oscillate) in a specific pattern.
The DLL3 protein regulates the activity of the NOTCH1 protein. The DLL3 protein attaches (binds) to the inactive NOTCH1 protein and isolates (sequesters) it or marks it to be broken down so that it cannot be activated.
Other Names
delta-like 3 (Drosophila); delta-like protein 3; delta-like protein 3 isoform 1 precursor; delta-like protein 3 isoform 2 precursor; delta3; DLL3_HUMAN; drosophila Delta homolog 3; SCDO1
Related Genetics Topics
Identifiers
- NCBI Gene: 10683
- OMIM: 602768
Source: MedlinePlus Genetics, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
