p190A inactivating mutations cause aberrant RhoA activation and promote malignant transformation via the Hippo-YAP pathway in endometrial cancer

Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2020 May 27;5(1):81. doi: 10.1038/s41392-020-0170-6.

Abstract

The Rho family of GTPases is strictly regulated by a large family of GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) that stimulate the relatively weak intrinsic GTP-hydrolyzing activity of Rho GTPases. p190A is a potent and widely expressed GAP that acts on RhoA GTPases. p190A is frequently mutated in endometrial cancer, but the contribution of p190A mutations to endometrial tumorigenesis remains unclear. Here we identified that p190A is an upstream regulator of the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway, which is a critical regulator of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell fate. p190A knockout in endometrial cancer cells promoted cell proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which were partially dependent on YAP activation. Wild-type p190A, but not endometrial cancer-associated mutants, suppressed the nuclear localization, transcriptional activity, and malignant transformation function of YAP. Moreover, the nuclear localization of YAP was enhanced in p190A-mutated endometrial cancer. These findings reveal novel molecular mechanisms underlying Hippo-YAP pathway-driven endometrial tumorigenesis and elucidate the potential for therapy targeting the Hippo-YAP pathway in p190A-mutated endometrial cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
  • Female
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics*
  • Hippo Signaling Pathway
  • Humans
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / genetics*

Substances

  • ARHGAP35 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • YY1AP1 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein