The RGS-RhoGEFs control the amplitude of YAP1 activation by serum

Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 27;11(1):2348. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-82027-4.

Abstract

Actin-dependent mechanisms drive the nuclear translocation of Yap1 to enable its co-activation of transcription factors that induce pro-growth and survival programs. While Rho GTPases are necessary for the nuclear import of YAP1, the relevant Guanine Exchange Factors (GEFs) and GTPase Activating Proteins (GAPs) that connect this process to upstream signaling are not well defined. To this end, we measured the impact of expressing sixty-seven RhoGEFs and RhoGAPs on the YAP1 dependent activity of a TEAD element transcriptional reporter. Robust effects by all three members of the regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) domain containing RhoGEFs (ArhGEF1, ArhGEF11 and ArhGEF12) prompted studies relating their known roles in serum signaling onto the regulation of Yap1. Under all conditions examined, ArhGEF12 preferentially mediated the activation of YAP1/TEAD by serum versus ArhGEF1 or ArhGEF11. Conversely, ArhGEF1 in multiple contexts inhibited both basal and serum elevated YAP1 activity through its GAP activity for Gα13. The sensitivity of such inhibition to cellular density and to low states of serum signaling supports that ArhGEF1 is a context dependent regulator of YAP1. Taken together, the relative activities of the RGS-RhoGEFs were found to dictate the degree to which serum signaling promotes YAP1 activity.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / genetics
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • rho-Associated Kinases / genetics
  • rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Transcription Factors
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • YAP1 protein, human
  • rho-Associated Kinases