Fig. 1
From: Asymmetric division of stem cells and its cancer relevance
The apical and basal determinants in asymmetric division. On the apical side, aPKC, PAR6 and L(2)GL form a complex that is phosphorylated by Aurora A. Then, aPKC phosphorylates L(2)GL. Phosphorylated L(2)GL is released from the complex and replaced by PAR3. The newly formed complex phosphorylates Numb and leads it releasing from the apical side to the basal side, increasing Numb levels at the basal side and maintainng Notch signaling activity at the apical side. Besides, Wnt signaling is also involved in the stemness maintenance. At the basal side, the accumulation of Numb suppresses the activation of Notch signaling. In addition, the adapter protein Miranda binds to Prospero and Brat at the basal side. After degradation of Miranda, Prospero and Brat are released. Prospero acts as a transcription factor to initiate differentiation. Brat works as a translational repressor to downregulate proteins associated with proliferation. Apical microtubule arrangement is also important during asymmetric division. Inscuteable forms a complex with Pins and Gai and then bind to MUD/DLG/KNC73 complex