Identification of cell context-dependent YAP-associated proteins reveals β1 and β4 integrin mediate YAP translocation independently of cell spreading

Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 20;9(1):17188. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-53659-4.

Abstract

Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a transcriptional regulator and mechanotransducer, relaying extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness into proliferative gene expression in 2D culture. Previous studies show that YAP activation is dependent on F-actin stress fiber mediated nuclear pore opening, however the protein mediators of YAP translocation remain unclear. Here, we show that YAP co-localizes with F-actin during activating conditions, such as sparse plating and culturing on stiff 2D substrates. To identify proteins mediating YAP translocation, we performed co-immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry (co-IP/MS) for proteins that differentially associated with YAP under activating conditions. Interestingly, YAP preferentially associates with β1 integrin under activating conditions, and β4 integrin under inactivating conditions. In activating conditions, CRISPR/Cas9 knockout (KO) of β1 integrin (ΔITGB1) resulted in decreased cell area, which correlated with decreased YAP nuclear localization. ΔITGB1 did not significantly affect the slope of the correlation between YAP nuclear localization with area, but did decrease overall nuclear YAP independently of cell spreading. In contrast, β4 integrin KO (ΔITGB4) cells showed no change in cell area and similarly decreased nuclear YAP. These results reveal proteins that differentially associate with YAP during activation, which may aid in regulating YAP nuclear translocation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism*
  • Actins / metabolism*
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Integrin beta1 / chemistry
  • Integrin beta1 / genetics
  • Integrin beta1 / metabolism*
  • Integrin beta4 / chemistry
  • Integrin beta4 / genetics
  • Integrin beta4 / metabolism*
  • Mechanotransduction, Cellular*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Protein Transport
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Actins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • ITGB4 protein, human
  • Integrin beta1
  • Integrin beta4
  • Itgb1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • YY1AP1 protein, human