YAP controls cell migration and invasion through a Rho GTPase switch.

ABSTRACT: Delineating the mechanisms that control the movement of cells is central to understanding diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes. The transcriptional coactivator YAP is important during development and associated with cancer metastasis. Here, we found that YAP promoted cell migration by modulating a Rho family guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) switch involving Rac1 and RhoA, which are key regulators of cytoskeletal dynamics. YAP transcriptionally transactivated the gene encoding the Rac1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor TRIO by directly binding to its intronic enhancer. This led to the activation of Rac1 and inhibition of RhoA, which increased cell migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. This YAP-dependent program was observed across many cell types, including human

SUBMITTER: Shah SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12268267 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature