Analysis of Hippo and TGFβ signaling in polarizing epithelial cells and mouse embryos

Differentiation. 2016 Apr-Jun;91(4-5):109-18. doi: 10.1016/j.diff.2016.01.003. Epub 2016 Jan 21.

Abstract

The Hippo signaling pathway is involved in numerous biological events ranging from early development to organogenesis and when disrupted, impacts various human diseases including cancer. The Hippo pathway also interacts with and controls the activity of other signaling pathways such as the TGFβ/Smad pathway, in which Hippo pathway activity influences the subcellular localization of Smad transcription factors. Here, we describe techniques for examining crosstalk between Hippo and TGFβ signaling in polarizing mammary epithelial cells. In addition, we provide detailed methods for analyzing the subcellular localization of the Hippo pathway effectors, Taz and Yap using both in vitro cultured epithelial cells and in vivo in pregastrulation mouse embryos.

Keywords: Apical-basal polarity; EpH4 cells; Hippo; Immunofluorescence microscopy; Mouse embryos; TGFβ.

MeSH terms

  • Acyltransferases
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Polarity / genetics
  • Embryonic Development / genetics*
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology*
  • Hippo Signaling Pathway
  • Mice
  • Morphogenesis / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Smad Proteins / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics*
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Smad Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • Yap1 protein, mouse
  • Acyltransferases
  • tafazzin protein, mouse
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases