Delta Like Protein 1 (dLL1)

DLL1 is a human homolog of the Notch Delta ligand and is a member of the delta/serrate/jagged family. It plays a role in mediating cell fate decisions during hematopoiesis. It may play a role in cell-to-cell communication.

Sequence analysis predicted that the 723-amino acid DLL1 transmembrane protein, which is 88% identical to the mouse Dll1 protein, has a DSL domain followed by 8 tandem EGF-like repeats and a short cytoplasmic C-terminal region. Northern blot analysis revealed strongest expression of 4.0- and 4.6-kb transcripts in heart and pancreas, with lower expression in brain and muscle and almost no expression in placenta, lung, liver, and kidney. In situ hybridization analysis indicated upregulated expression of DLL1 in squamous cell carcinoma and in situ and invasive adenocarcinoma.