STRIPAK integrates upstream signals to initiate the Hippo kinase cascade

R Chen, R Xie, Z Meng, S Ma, KL Guan - Nature cell biology, 2019 - nature.com
Nature cell biology, 2019nature.com
The Hippo pathway plays a critical role in development, tissue homeostasis and organ size;
its dysregulation contributes to human diseases. Although MST1/2 and the MAP4Ks are well
known as the Hippo kinases, a major open question is how these kinases are regulated by
upstream signals. Here we report that STRIPAK integrates upstream signals to control the
activities of MST1/2 and the MAP4Ks, thus initiating Hippo signalling. STRIPAK also serves
as a master regulator for the STE20 family kinases. Following serum or lysophosphatidic …
Abstract
The Hippo pathway plays a critical role in development, tissue homeostasis and organ size; its dysregulation contributes to human diseases. Although MST1/2 and the MAP4Ks are well known as the Hippo kinases, a major open question is how these kinases are regulated by upstream signals. Here we report that STRIPAK integrates upstream signals to control the activities of MST1/2 and the MAP4Ks, thus initiating Hippo signalling. STRIPAK also serves as a master regulator for the STE20 family kinases. Following serum or lysophosphatidic acid stimulation, active RhoA binds and dissociates rhophilin and NF2/Kibra from STRIPAK, thereby inducing the association and dephosphorylation of MST1/2 and MAP4Ks by the STRIPAK phosphatase catalytic subunit PP2AC. Rhophilin suppresses cancer cell growth by activating the Hippo pathway. Our study reveals a RhoA–rhophilin–NF2/Kibra–STRIPAK signalling axis in Hippo regulation, thus addressing the key question of how Hippo signalling is initiated and suggesting a broad and active role for STRIPAK in cellular signalling.
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