Abstract
The Hippo pathway controls tissue growth and tumorigenesis by inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Recent genetic studies in Drosophila identified Kibra as a novel regulator of Hippo signaling. Human KIBRA has been associated with memory performance and cell migration. However, it is unclear whether or how KIBRA is connected to the Hippo pathway in mammalian cells. Here, we show that KIBRA associates with and activates Lats (large tumor suppressor) 1 and 2 kinases by stimulating their phosphorylation on the hydrophobic motif. KIBRA overexpression stimulates the phosphorylation of Yes-associated protein (YAP), the Hippo pathway effector. Conversely, depletion of KIBRA by RNA interference reduces YAP phosphorylation. Furthermore, KIBRA stabilizes Lats2 by inhibiting its ubiquitination. We also found that KIBRA mRNA is induced by YAP overexpression in both murine and human cells, suggesting the evolutionary conservation of KIBRA as a transcriptional target of the Hippo signaling pathway. Thus, our study revealed a new connection between KIBRA and mammalian Hippo signaling.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
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Amino Acid Motifs
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Animals
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Carrier Proteins / genetics
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Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Drosophila melanogaster
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HEK293 Cells
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Humans
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Mice
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Phosphoproteins / genetics
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Phosphoproteins / metabolism
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Phosphorylation
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
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Proteins / genetics
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Proteins / metabolism*
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Signal Transduction / physiology*
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Transcription Factors
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Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
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Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*
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Ubiquitination
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YAP-Signaling Proteins
Substances
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
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Carrier Proteins
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Phosphoproteins
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Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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Tumor Suppressor Proteins
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WWC1 protein, human
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Wwc1 protein, mouse
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YAP-Signaling Proteins
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YAP1 protein, human
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LATS1 protein, human
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Lats1 protein, mouse
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LATS2 protein, human
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LATS2 protein, mouse
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases