Final answer:
The Notch receptor acts as a transcription regulator by binding to signal molecules and activating intracellular signaling pathways. This leads to the production of transcription factors, which can bind to specific regions of DNA and regulate gene expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Notch receptor itself acts as a transcription regulator. When signal molecules, such as hormones, bind to the Notch receptor on the surface of a cell, it triggers the activation of intracellular signaling pathways. These pathways lead to the production of transcription factors, which are proteins that can bind to specific regions of DNA and regulate the transcription, or the process of gene expression. By binding to specific regulatory DNA sequences associated with target genes, the Notch receptor and its associated transcription factors can either increase or decrease the transcription of these genes, thus modulating gene expression.