Fig. 5.

Integration of intercellular cues amplifies intrinsic noise in the recipient cell. a By lateral inhibition, the interacting cells express Notch ligand and receptors in a mutually exclusive manner. Such polarized expression of the ligands and receptors maximizes induction of noise in the recipient cell. Phenotypically, polarized expression of the ligand and receptors becomes manifest as optimized spatial distribution of differentiation fates associated with Notch^high and Notch^low state (e.g. glia versus neuron in development of neurosensory apparatus). b The intercellular cues provided by neighboring cells amplify noise-inducing activity of notch pathway in a manner akin to harmonic interaction of tuning forks. By this mechanism, every interaction that liberates NICD provides positive feedback into the recipient cell and increases the magnitude and duration of pre-existing noisy state (right schematic image where noise is represented in wave-form)