DLL4: Proteins and Enzymes

Delta-like protein 4 (DLL4) is a transmembrane protein in the Delta/Serrate/Lag2 (DSL) family of Notch ligands. It is selectively expressed on arterial endothelial cells and functions as a ligand for Notch 1 and Notch 4. Notch signaling controls cell fate and is required during vascular development, hematopoiesis, somatogenesis, myogenesis, and neurogenesis. DLL4 interaction with Notch proteins triggers the proteolysis of both molecules, with release the intracellular and extracellular domains and subsequent regulation of gene transcription.