The Hippo pathway regulates organ size and suppresses tumorigenesis in multicellular organisms. Dysregulation of this pathway drives tumor formation in humans and mice. Central to this pathway is a kinase cascade formed by a Ste20 family kinase Mst1/2, a scaffolding protein Salvador/WW45 (Sav), an NDR family kinase Lats1/2, and an adaptor protein Mob1. Cell-cell contact is an upstream signal that turns on this pathway and activates Mst1/2-Sav. Mst1/2 phosphorylates and activates Lats1/2-Mob1, which then phosphorylates YAP. Phospho-YAP is either degraded or sequestered in the cytoplasm by 14-3-3. When the Hippo pathway is off, YAP translocates to the nucleus and forms a functional hybrid transcriptional factor with TEAD. YAP-TEAD activates the transcription of pro-proliferative and pro-survival genes, enabling cell proliferation. We have obtained key preliminary results in this area. In published results, we have determined the crystal structure of the YAP-binding domain of human TEAD2 and characterized its interaction with YAP. In unpublished results, we have made the following discoveries: (1) RASSF5 binding to Mst2 hinders its auto- phosphorylation-dependent activation;(2) we have determined the crystal structure of the Mst2-RASSF5 complex;(3) phosphorylation of RASSF5 by active Mst2 weakens the Mst2-RASSF5 interaction;(4) Mob1 is a phospho-peptide-binding module and binds to the auto-phosphorylation T378 site in the Mst2 linker;and (5) binding of phosphorylated Mob1 to Lats1 stimulates YAP phosphorylation without affecting Lats1 auto- phosphorylation. Our results support the central hypothesis that phosphorylation-regulated protein-protein interactions underlie the activation of the Mst-Lats kinase cascade. A set of intricate, regulated interactions among the SARAH domains of Mst, RASSF, and Sav determine the status of Mst activation. Active Mst2 autophosphorylates its linker, creating a docking site for Mob1. Recruitment of Mob1 to Mst2 promotes efficient Mob1 phosphorylation. Phosphorylated Mob1 binds to Lats1 and stimulates YAP phosphorylation by Lats1. Despite the tremendous progress in this area, the activation mechanisms of the central Mst-Lats kinase cascade are not fully understood. This proposal aims to fill this void and establish the activation mechanisms of the Mst-Lats kinase cascade.
In Aim 1, we will study the regulation of Mst1/2 activation by RASSF and Sav.
In Aim 2, we will establish the mechanism of Mst1/2-dependent Mob1 phosphorylation and activation.
In Aim 3, we will dissect the mechanism of Lats1 activation by Mob1. Dysregulation of the Hippo pathway is intimately linked to cancer. Our proposed biochemical and structural studies on Mst, Lats, and their regulators will establish the activation mechanisms of the Mst-Lats kinase cascade. This knowledge will ultimately aid the development of chemical compounds that activate the Hippo pathway, which can serve as leads for the development of new anti-cancer drugs.

Public Health Relevance

In this proposal, we plan to investigate the regulation of the central Mst-Lats kinase cascade in the Hippo pathway with a combination of structural, biochemical and cell biological approaches. Dysregulation of the Hippo pathway drives tumor formation in humans and mice. The proposed research will shed light on the molecular mechanism of the Hippo signaling pathway and may aid the development of chemical compounds that activate the Hippo pathway, which can serve as leads for the eventual development of new anti-cancer drugs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM107415-02
Application #
8724532
Study Section
Macromolecular Structure and Function C Study Section (MSFC)
Program Officer
Flicker, Paula F
Project Start
2013-09-01
Project End
2017-04-30
Budget Start
2014-05-01
Budget End
2015-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Sw Medical Center Dallas
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Dallas
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
75390
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Bae, Sung Jun; Ni, Lisheng; Osinski, Adam et al. (2017) SAV1 promotes Hippo kinase activation through antagonizing the PP2A phosphatase STRIPAK. Elife 6:
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Chan, PuiYee; Han, Xiao; Zheng, Baohui et al. (2016) Autopalmitoylation of TEAD proteins regulates transcriptional output of the Hippo pathway. Nat Chem Biol 12:282-9
Ouyang, Zhuqing; Zheng, Ge; Tomchick, Diana R et al. (2016) Structural Basis and IP6 Requirement for Pds5-Dependent Cohesin Dynamics. Mol Cell 62:248-259
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Hara, Mayuko; Özkan, Engin; Sun, Hongbin et al. (2015) Structure of an intermediate conformer of the spindle checkpoint protein Mad2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:11252-7
Ni, Lisheng; Zheng, Yonggang; Hara, Mayuko et al. (2015) Structural basis for Mob1-dependent activation of the core Mst-Lats kinase cascade in Hippo signaling. Genes Dev 29:1416-31
Ni, Lisheng; Li, Sheng; Yu, Jianzhong et al. (2013) Structural basis for autoactivation of human Mst2 kinase and its regulation by RASSF5. Structure 21:1757-68