The Hippo signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved regulator that plays important roles in organ size control, homeostasis, and tumorigenesis. As the key effector of the Hippo pathway, Yorkie (Yki) binds to transcription factor Scalloped (Sd) and promotes the expression of target genes, leading to cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis. Thus, it is of great significance to understand the regulatory mechanism for Yki protein turnover. Here, we provide evidence that the deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin-specific protease 10 (Usp10) binds Yki to counteract Yki ubiquitination and stabilize Yki protein in Drosophila S2 cells. The results in Drosophila wing discs indicate that silence of Usp10 decreases the transcription of target genes of the Hippo pathway by reducing Yki protein. In vivo functional analysis ulteriorly showed that Usp10 upregulates the Yki activity in Drosophila eyes. These findings uncover Usp10 as a novel Hippo pathway modulator and provide a new insight into the regulation of Yki protein stability and activity.
Keywords: Drosophila; Hippo pathway; Usp10; Yki; deubiquitinating enzyme.