Function
Acts as a ligand for Notch receptors and is involved in primary neurogenesis. Can activate Notch receptors, thereby playing a key role in lateral inhibition, a process that prevents the immediate neighbors of each nascent neural cell from simultaneously embarking on neural differentiation. Required for boundary formation during segmentation of the hindbrain. Required for midline cell fate specification prior to germ layer formation; regulates specification of floorplate, notochord and hypochord. In inner ear, it prevents adjacent cells from adopting the same cell fate. Plays a role in angiogenesis.
Sequence
MGRHLLLLLFSILYMLLCQASSSGVFELKLQEFLNKKGVQGNKNCCKGGLTTSYQQCECKTFFRICLKHYQPNASPEPPCTYGGTVTPVLGSNSFQVPDTLPDGSFTNPIRMNFGFTWPGTFSLIIEALHADSKEDLTTENPERIISTMTTQRHLTVGEDWSQDLHSVGRTELKYSYRFVCDEHYYGEGCSVFCRPRDDAFGHFTCGERGEIICDAGWKGQYCTEPICLPGCDEEHGFCEKPGECKCRVGFKGRYCDECIRYPGCLHGTCQQPWQCNCQEGWGGLFCNQDLNYCTHHKPCLNGATCSNTGQGSYTCSCRPGFSGASCEIEVNECTGNPCRNGGSCTDMENTYSCTCPPGFYGKNCELSAMTCADGPCFNGGRCADNPDGGYFCQCPTGYAGFNCEKKIDHCSSSPCSNGARCVDLVNSYLCQCPDGFTGMNCDRAGDECSMYPCQNGGTCQEGASGYMCTCPPGYTGRNCSSPVSRCQHNPCHNGATCHERNNRYVCACVSGYGGRNCQFLLPDRASQIASDVPWTAVGSGVLLVLLLVVACAVVVVCVRSKVQQRRRDREDEVANGENETINNLTNNCHRDKDLAVSVVGVAPVKNINKKIDFSSDHDDLSLTTEKRSYKTRHAPADYNLVHEVKFEVKHEVKLEHAGKETTMANELSDSCEDIKCQSLQDSSECTEEKRRKRLKSDASEKSKYSESRYSESKYSESKYSESKYSDVSLYSESACASACASASTSACVDTKYKSVMVMSEEKDECVIATEV