Project description:To identify the YAP/TAZ target genes in granulosa cells, DNA microarray experiments were performed in KGN cells where YAP/TAZ were knocked down. The effect of the presence or absence of 8Br-cAMP, an intracellular second messenger of FSH, was also investigated in KGN cells.
Project description:To identify the YAP/TAZ target genes in granulosa cells, DNA microarray experiments were performed in KGN cells where YAP/TAZ were knocked down. The effect of the presence or absence of 8Br-cAMP, an intracellular second messenger of FSH, was also investigated in KGN cells.
Project description:We conditionally knocked out both Yap and Taz in cranial neural crest (CNC) using the Wnt1Cre driver and sequenced mRNA from embryonic day 10.5 mandibles. Examination of mRNA level in E10.5 mandibular tissues from control and Wnt1Cre Taz and Yap dKO mutant.
Project description:Transcriptome analysis of prostate cancer patient derived organoid DU145 cell line upon knockdown of YAP, TAZ, or YAP/TAZ mediated by siRNAs
Project description:The optic vesicle comprises a pool of bi-potential progenitor cells from which the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and neural retina fates segregate during ocular morphogenesis. Several transcription factors and signaling pathways have been shown to be important for RPE maintenance and differentiation, but an understanding of the initial fate specification and determination of this ocular cell type is lacking. We show that Yap/Taz-Tead activity is necessary and sufficient for optic vesicle progenitors to adopt RPE identity in zebrafish. A Teadresponsive transgene is expressed within the domain of the optic cup from which RPE arises, and Yap immunoreactivity localizes to the nuclei of prospective RPE cells. yap (yap1) mutants lack a subset of RPE cells and/or exhibit coloboma. Loss of RPE in yap mutants is exacerbated in combination with taz (wwtr1) mutant alleles such that, when Yap and Taz are both absent, optic vesicle progenitor cells completely lose their ability to form RPE. The mechanism of Yap dependent RPE cell type determination is reliant on both nuclear localization of Yap and interaction with a Tead co-factor. In contrast to loss of Yap and Taz, overexpression of either protein within optic vesicle progenitors leads to ectopic pigmentation in a dosagedependent manner. Overall, this study identifies Yap and Taz as key early regulators of RPE genesis and provides a mechanistic framework for understanding the congenital ocular defects of Sveinsson’s chorioretinal atrophy and congenital retinal coloboma. 60 pooled eyes from 36 hpf wild type or vsx2:Gal4/dsRed:14xUAS:YapS87A embryos were pooled for one sample. Three wild type and three vsx2:Gal4/dsRed:14xUAS:YapS87A pools were analyzed for RNA.
Project description:During placentation, placental cytotrophoblast cells differentiate into syncytiotrophoblast cells and extravillous trophoblast cells. In placenta, the expression of various genes is regulated by the Hippo pathway through the transcriptional coactivator YAP/TAZ-TEAD activity. To examine the effect of YAP/TAZ and/or TEAD on trophoblast differentiation, knockdown experiments were performed. Microarray analysis were performed to identify YAP/TAZ and/or TEAD target genes in human trophoblast.
Project description:Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5is) are the primary therapeutic option for erectile dysfunction. However, 30% of patients do not respond to PDE5is treatment, making the quest for a new treatment modality a central endeavor. Here, we found a new pathway in erectile function control, mechano-regulated YAP/TAZ activate Adrenomedullin transcription, which sustains smooth muscle cells (SMCs) relaxation to maintain the erection. We first found that penile erection stretches the SMCs, dominating YAP/TAZ activity. Subsequently, we showed that YAP/TAZ plays a vital role in erectile function and penile rehabilitation using genetic lesions and several animal models. The mechanism relies on the regulation of Adrenomedullin on penile SMCs contraction, which we identify here as a direct YAP/TAZ transcript. Notably, conventional PDE5is targeting NO-cGMP signaling do not cure YAP/TAZ deficient ED. In contrast, by activating YAP/TAZ-Adrenomedullin cascade, mechano-stimulation improved erectile function, including PDE5is non-responders in both experimental models and clinical trials. Our studies lay the groundwork for exploring mechano-YAP/TAZ-Adrenomedullin as prospective targets in the treatment of ED
Project description:The two effector proteins of the Hippo signaling pathway, YAP and TAZ, play a pivotal role in the cellular homeostasis of podocytes and in the pathogenesis of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). We aim to unravel the unique and redundant functions of YAP and TAZ in the podocyte by identifying podocyte-specific interactors. We generated stable heat sensitive mouse podocytes (hsMPs) carrying a single copy integration of a transgenic construct expressing a flagged version of mouse Yap (3XFLAG.YAP), Taz (3XFLAG.TAZ) or Ruby (3XFLAG.RUBY) in the Rosa26 locus. To explore the interactome of YAP and TAZ in podocytes we immunoprecipitated the tagged proteins and characterized the co-immunoprecipitated protein complexes by mass spectrometry. Within the interactome analyses of the hsMPs, we identified shared and non-shared interacting proteins between YAP and TAZ. Among these identified proteins many well established interactors of YAP and TAZ were included, like proteins of the Tead family, different angiomotins or large tumor suppressor kinase 1 (Lats1). Strikingly, among the shared proteins were numerous proteins of the nuclear shuttling machinery, like importins (Ipo), exportins (Xpo), transportins (Tnpo) and nucleoporins (Nup) that form the nuclear pore complex (NPC), such as NUP107, NUP133, NUP205 and XPO5.
Project description:In the ovary, proliferation and differentiation of granulosa cells (GCs) drive the growth of follicles. This is, in part, dependent on gonadotropins. Our immunohistochemical studies provided hints of mitochondrial biogenesis and intracellular redistribution in GCs of growing follicles. A cellular model, human KGN cells (granulosa cell tumor cells, derived from growing follicles) was used to study aspects of mitochondrial dynamics. To elevate cAMP and thereby mimic gonadotropin actions, forskolin (FSK) was used, which increased KGN cell size and mitochondrial DNA within 24 h. MitoTracker experiments and ultrastructural 3D reconstruction revealed that FSK treatment induced the formation of elaborate mitochondrial networks. H89, a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, reduced network formation. A proteomic analysis indicated that FSK among others elevated levels of regulators of the cytoskeleton and the steroidogenic enzyme CYP11A1, located in mitochondria, was more than 3-fold increased, implying that cAMP/PKA-associated structural changes go in parallel with the acquisition of steroidogenic competence of mitochondria in KGN cells. In summary, in situ observations showed increases in mitochondria and suggested intracellular trafficking in GCs during follicular growth and indicated that they may partially be under the control of gonadotropins/cAMP. In line with this, elevation of cAMP in KGN profoundly affected mitochondria dynamics in a PKA-dependent manner and implicated cytoskeletal changes.