THE POWER OF THE NOTCH PATHWAYS IS IN ITS INTRINSIC RELATION WITH THE WNT PATHWAYS.

Globally, the most powerful pathways in the cell, the Wnt and the Notch pathways, control the most important functions in the cell from cell differentiation and tissue formation and delineation, to commitment to the assigned function (Notch).  The Wnt completes the differentiation by directing the differentiation to its appropriate place through cell adhesion manipulation and migration.  But this influence of the 2 pathways does not stop there !  The Notch interacts with ADAMS 10, 17 liberating Metalloproteases while disintegrins act or are  Cyclins (including Cyclin D1) with known impact on cell division while Metalloproteases helps in cell migration but could also initiate inflammatory processes as well as attack unprepared cells (cells without a relevant inhibitor of those specific Metalloproteases).  Portions of the transmembrane proteins belonging to the Notch, once lysed by SECRETASES are quickly transported to the nucleus where they induce transcription factor production.  The effect does not stop here Notch and Wnt affect Sodium channel, calcium dependent function, Immunoglobulin and their receptors (IgCAM), and totipotentiality of cells.   Stem cells would not be without these pathways.  In fact, Teratoma is an expression of significant disturbances of these 2 gene pathways!
One other poorly understood or underestimated functions, is the "cellular consensus" function which not only commits to a specific life of tissue...but also to death, or time to die.  You can stay alive even hidden underground, or you can stay irreversibly dead even hooked to supportive machines...if the Notch and Wnt say so!

DO NOT MINIMIZE THE ROLE OF SECRETASES MENTIONED HERE, THEY ARE AT THE SOURCE OF ALZHEIMER DEMENTIA...MORE IS TO COME ABOUT THESE SECRETASES AS THEIR INHIBITION IS BEING OFFERED AS A TREATMENT STRATEGY!