Mechanoregulation and pathology of YAP/TAZ via Hippo and non-Hippo mechanisms

Clin Transl Med. 2018 Aug 13;7(1):23. doi: 10.1186/s40169-018-0202-9.

Abstract

Yes-associated protein (YAP) and its paralog WW domain containing transcription regulator 1 (TAZ) are important regulators of multiple cellular functions such as proliferation, differentiation, and survival. On the tissue level, YAP/TAZ are essential for embryonic development, organ size control and regeneration, while their deregulation leads to carcinogenesis or other diseases. As an underlying principle for YAP/TAZ-mediated regulation of biological functions, a growing body of research reveals that YAP/TAZ play a central role in delivering information of mechanical environments surrounding cells to the nucleus transcriptional machinery. In this review, we discuss mechanical cue-dependent regulatory mechanisms for YAP/TAZ functions, as well as their clinical significance in cancer progression and treatment.

Keywords: Actomyosin; Cancer progression; Cancer therapy resistance; Contact inhibition of proliferation; Hippo pathway; Mechanotransduction; TAZ; YAP.

Publication types

  • Review