Regulation of the Hippo-YAP pathway by G-protein-coupled receptor signaling.

The Hippo pathway is crucial in organ size control, and its dysregulation contributes to tumorigenesis. However, upstream signals that regulate the mammalian Hippo pathway have remained elusive. Here, we report that the Hippo pathway is regulated by G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. Serum-borne lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine 1-phosphophate (S1P) act through G12/13-coupled receptors to inhibit the Hippo pathway kinases Lats1/2, thereby activating YAP and TAZ transcription coactivators, which are oncoproteins repressed by Lats1/2. YAP and TAZ are involved in LPA-induced gene expression, cell migration, and proliferation. In contrast, stimulation of Gs-coupled receptors by glucagon or epinephrine activates Lats1/2 kinase activity, thereby inhibiting YAP function. Thus, GPCR signaling can either activate or inhibit the Hippo-YAP pathway depending on the coupled G protein. Our study identifies extracellular diffusible signals that modulate the Hippo pathway and also establishes the Hippo-YAP pathway as a critical signaling branch downstream of GPCR.

Angiomotin is a novel Hippo pathway component that inhibits YAP oncoprotein.

The Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a transcription coactivator that plays a crucial role in organ size control by promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. The Hippo tumor suppressor pathway inhibits YAP through phosphorylation-induced cytoplasmic retention and degradation. Here we report a novel mechanism of YAP regulation by angiomotin (AMOT) family proteins via a direct interaction. Knockdown of AMOT family protein AMOTL2 in polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells leads to YAP activation, as indicated by decreased YAP tight junction localization, attenuated YAP phosphorylation, accumulation of nuclear YAP, and induction of YAP target gene expression. Transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), the YAP paralog, is also regulated by AMOT in a similar fashion. Furthermore, AMOTL2 knockdown results in loss of cell contact inhibition in a manner dependent on the functions of YAP and TAZ. Our results indicate a potential tumor-suppressing role of AMOT family proteins as components of the Hippo pathway, and demonstrate a novel mechanism of YAP and TAZ inhibition by AMOT-mediated tight junction localization. These observations provide a potential link between the Hippo pathway and cell contact inhibition.