Notch mRNA expression in Drosophila embryos is negatively regulated at the level of mRNA 3' processing.

Notch receptor regulates differentiation of almost all tissues and organs during animal development. Many mechanisms function at the protein level to finely regulate Notch activity. Here we provide evidence for Notch regulation at an earlier step - mRNA 3' processing. Processing at the Notch consensus polyadenylation site appears by default to be suppressed in Drosophila embryos. Interference with this suppression, by a mutation, results in increased levels of polyadenylated Notch mRNA, excess Notch signaling, and severe developmental defects. We propose that Notch mRNA 3' processing is negatively regulated to limit the production of Notch protein and render it a controlling factor in the generation of Notch signaling.