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. 2016 Oct;12(4):2277-2282.
doi: 10.3892/ol.2016.4955. Epub 2016 Aug 5.

Role of Yes-associated protein in cancer: An update

Ramazan Abylkassov  1 , Yingqiu Xie  1
Affiliations

Role of Yes-associated protein in cancer: An update

Ramazan Abylkassov et al. Oncol Lett. 2016 Oct.

Abstract

Yes-associated protein (YAP) is an oncoprotein located in the cytoplasm in an inactive form, and when activated, it translocates to the nucleus and activates the transcription of genes responsible for cell division and apoptosis. YAP is one of the downstream regulatory proteins in the Hippo signaling pathway, which is important in cell proliferation and regeneration. Due to its great importance, YAP is regulated very strictly by different regulatory systems. The present review will focus on the canonical pathways of YAP, and will provide details on the most recent findings regarding its regulation and role in tumorigenesis, specifically in prostate tumor progression.

Keywords: YAP; cancer; prostate cancer.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
YAP protein domains. Various domains of YAP are colored from the N-terminus to the C-terminus, highlighting phosphorylation and methylation sites, as well as binding sites with other factors. Figure is adapted from Zhao et al (3). YAP, yes-associated protein; TEAD, TEA domain; SH3, SRC homology 3; P, phosphorylation; M, methylation.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Regulation of the Yes-associated protein/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif complex. YAP, Yes-associated protein; TAZ, transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif; GPCR, G-protein-coupled receptor; LPA, lipoprotein(a); S1P, sphingosine-1-phosphate; APC, adenomatous polyposis coli; cAMP, cyclic adenosine monophosphate; PKA, protein kinase A; LATS, large tumor suppressor; AMOT, angiomotin; VGLL4, vestigial-like family member 4; TEAD, TEA domain; P, phosphorylation.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Regulation of microRNA synthesis by the Yes-associated protein/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif complex. pri-, primary transcript; pre-, precursor; miRNA, microRNA; YAP, Yes-associated protein; TAZ, transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif; DDX17, DEAD box helicase 17.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Regulation of the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog by Yes-associated protein. TEAD, TEA domain; YAP, Yes-associated protein; miRNA, microRNA; mRNA, messenger RNA; PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homolog; UTR, untranslated region.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Function of YAP in prostate cancer cells. Upregulated activity of YAP causes the cells to become insensitive to androgen, and promotes uncontrolled expression of androgen receptor-dependent genes. YAP, Yes-associated protein; AR, androgen receptor.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Array comparative genomic hybridization identified an elevation in the copy number of the mouse Yap gene in a mouse model of prostate cancer. The array comparative genomic hybridization method was used to determine the elevated or inhibited expression of several molecules. The Yap gene was highly amplified, and was one of the top ranked amplified genes (33). Yap, Yes-associated protein.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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