Notch signaling involves a direct cell-to-cell communication mechanism. When a ligand (such as Delta or Jagged) on a neighboring cell binds to the Notch receptor, it triggers a series of proteolytic cleavages. The most critical of these cleavages is mediated by the γ-secretase complex, which releases the Notch intracellular domain (NICD). The NICD then translocates to the nucleus, where it influences the transcription of target genes.
