Practice question

LIN-12 encodes one of two C. elegans Notch receptors, homologous to Drosophila Notch. It is expressed in ventral uterine precursors and vulval precursor cells, where binding of ligands LAG-2, APX-1, DSL-1 from anchor cell or primary VPC triggers proteolytic cleavage by ADAM and gamma-secretase, releasing NICD that translocates to nucleus with LAG-1 CSL transcription factor to activate secondary vulval genes lst and lip-1. This lateral signaling restricts primary fate and ensures correct patterning of uterine versus anchor cell decisions and secondary VPC fates, representing canonical Notch activation pathway in nematode development.