Filling out the Hippo pathway

Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2007 Aug;8(8):613-21. doi: 10.1038/nrm2221.

Abstract

How cell numbers are controlled during organ development is a problem that is still in need of answers. Recent studies in Drosophila melanogaster have delineated a novel signalling pathway, the Hippo pathway, which has an important role in restraining cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis in differentiating epithelial cells. Much like cancer cells, cells that contain mutations for components of the Hippo pathway proliferate inappropriately and have a competitive edge in genetically mosaic tissues. Although poorly characterized in mammals, several components of the Hippo pathway seem to be tumour suppressors in humans.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis* / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation* / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila melanogaster
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Epithelial Cells / ultrastructure
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Mosaicism
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction* / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • hpo protein, Drosophila