LKB1 tumor suppressor regulates AMP kinase/mTOR-independent cell growth and proliferation via the phosphorylation of Yap

Oncogene. 2013 Aug 29;32(35):4100-9. doi: 10.1038/onc.2012.431. Epub 2012 Oct 1.

Abstract

The liver kinase B1 (LKB1) tumor suppressor inhibits cell growth through its regulation of cellular metabolism and apical-basal polarity. The best understood mechanism whereby LKB1 limits cell growth is through activation of the AMP-activated-protein-kinase/mammalian-target-of-rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) pathway to control metabolism. As LKB1 is also required for polarized epithelial cells to resist hyperplasia, it is anticipated to function through additional mechanisms. Recently, Yes-associated protein (Yap) has emerged as a transcriptional co-activator that modulates tissue homeostasis in response to cell-cell contact. Thus this study examined a possible connection between Yap and LKB1. Restoration of LKB1 expression in HeLa cells, which lack this tumor suppressor, or short-hairpin RNA knockdown of LKB1 in NTERT immortalized keratinocytes, demonstrated that LKB1 promotes Yap phosphorylation, nuclear exclusion and proteasomal degradation. The ability of phosphorylation-defective Yap mutants to rescue LKB1 phenotypes, such as reduced cell proliferation and cell size, suggest that Yap inhibition contributes to LKB1 tumor suppressor function(s). However, failure of Lats1/2 knockdown to suppress LKB1-mediated Yap regulation suggested that LKB1 signals to Yap via a non-canonical pathway. Additionally, LKB1 inhibited Yap independently of either AMPK or mTOR activation. These findings reveal a novel mechanism whereby LKB1 may restrict cancer cell growth via the inhibition of Yap.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Adenylate Kinase / physiology*
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cell Size
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / physiology
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology*
  • Stress Fibers / physiology
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / physiology*
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • YAP1 protein, human
  • LATS1 protein, human
  • MTOR protein, human
  • LATS2 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • STK11 protein, human
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • Adenylate Kinase
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex