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NUMB enhances Notch signaling by repressing ubiquitination of NOTCH1 intracellular domain
Zhiyuan Luo1,† , Lili Mu1,† , Yue Zheng1 , Wenchen Shen1 , Jiali Li1 , Lichao Xu1 , Bo Zhong1 , Ying Liu1,* , Yan Zhou,*
1College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Medical Research Institute at School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
These authors contributed equally to this work.
*Correspondence to:Ying Liu , Email:y.liu@whu.edu.cn Yan Zhou , Email:yan.zhou@whu.edu.cn
J Mol Cell Biol, Volume 12, Issue 5, May 2020, 345-358,  https://doi.org/10.1093/jmcb/mjz088
Keyword: NUMB, Notch intracellular domain, BAP1, ubiquitination, neural progenitor cells

The release and nuclear translocation of the intracellular domain of Notch receptor (NICD) is the prerequisite for Notch signaling-mediated transcriptional activation. NICD is subjected to various posttranslational modifications including ubiquitination. Here, we surprisingly found that NUMB proteins stabilize the intracellular domain of NOTCH1 receptor (N1ICD) by regulating the ubiquitin–proteasome machinery, which is independent of NUMB’s role in modulating endocytosis. BAP1, a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB), was further identified as a positive N1ICD regulator, and NUMB facilitates the association between N1ICD and BAP1 to stabilize N1ICD. Intriguingly, BAP1 stabilizes N1ICD independent of its DUB activity but relying on the BRCA1-inhibiting function. BAP1 strengthens Notch signaling and maintains stem-like properties of cortical neural progenitor cells. Thus, NUMB enhances Notch signaling by regulating the ubiquitinating activity of the BAP1–BRCA1 complex.