Notch3 (Notch homolog 3, Drosophila, hN3, CASIL, CADASIL)

The Notch protein sits like a trigger penetrating the cell membrane, with part of it inside and part outside. Proteins when binding to the exterior part cause the release of a portion of the interior part, which typically then makes its way to the cell nucleus to alter gene expression. The Notch gene belongs to a family of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like homeotic genes, which encode transmembrane proteins with a variable number of cysteine rich EGF like repeats in the extracellular region. Four notch genes have been described in mammals: Notch1,Notch2, Notch3 and Notch4(Int3), which have been...