Turning it up a Notch: cross-talk between TGFβ and Notch signaling

Signaling through both the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily of growth factors and Notch play crucial roles during embryonic pattern formation and cell fate determination. Although both pathways are able to exert similar biological responses in certain cell types, a functional interaction between these two signaling pathways has not been described. Now, three papers provide evidence of both synergy and antagonism between TGFβ and Notch signaling.1-3 These reports describe a requirement for Notch signal transducers in TGFβ- and BMP-induced expression of Notch target genes, as well as in BMP-controlled cell differentiation and migration. These papers uncover a direct link between the Notch and TGFβ pathways and suggest a critical role for Notch in some of the biological responses to TGFβ family signaling. BioEssays 27:115–118, 2005. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.