Glial cells comprise diverse subtypes and play various functions in the nervous system. However, the regulatory mechanisms for glial diversification and differentiation are unknown in vertebrates as well as in Drosophila. Determination of lateral glial cells in Drosophila depends on the transcription factor Glial Cells Missing (GCM). Since the expression of GCM is transient, other factors must be responsible for the terminal differentiation of glial cells. We have focused on the role of transcription factors regulating glial cells division and differentiation.

Notch signaling subdivides Longitudinal glial cells into two groups, which differ in gene expression patterns and their relationships to axon bundles they enseath. The "developmental context" for Notch-dependent glial specification is provided by several transcription factors.
グリア細胞はNotchシグナルによって遺伝子発現パターンや軸索束との関係が異なる２つのグループに分けられる．いくつかの転写因子がNotch依存的なグリア特異化のための「コンテキスト」を形成する．