Androgen attenuates the inactivating phospho-Ser-127 modification of yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) and promotes YAP1 nuclear abundance and activity

J Biol Chem. 2020 Jun 19;295(25):8550-8559. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA120.013794. Epub 2020 May 6.

Abstract

The transcriptional coactivator YAP1 (yes-associated protein 1) regulates cell proliferation, cell-cell interactions, organ size, and tumorigenesis. Post-transcriptional modifications and nuclear translocation of YAP1 are crucial for its nuclear activity. The objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which the steroid hormone androgen regulates YAP1 nuclear entry and functions in several human prostate cancer cell lines. We demonstrate that androgen exposure suppresses the inactivating post-translational modification phospho-Ser-127 in YAP1, coinciding with increased YAP1 nuclear accumulation and activity. Pharmacological and genetic experiments revealed that intact androgen receptor signaling is necessary for androgen's inactivating effect on phospho-Ser-127 levels and increased YAP1 nuclear entry. We also found that androgen exposure antagonizes Ser/Thr kinase 4 (STK4/MST1) signaling, stimulates the activity of protein phosphatase 2A, and thereby attenuates the phospho-Ser-127 modification and promotes YAP1 nuclear localization. Results from quantitative RT-PCR and CRISPR/Cas9-aided gene knockout experiments indicated that androgen differentially regulates YAP1-dependent gene expression. Furthermore, an unbiased computational analysis of the prostate cancer data from The Cancer Genome Atlas revealed that YAP1 and androgen receptor transcript levels correlate with each other in prostate cancer tissues. These findings indicate that androgen regulates YAP1 nuclear localization and its transcriptional activity through the androgen receptor-STK4/MST1-protein phosphatase 2A axis, which may have important implications for human diseases such as prostate cancer.

Keywords: Hippo pathway; Hippo/MST1/STK4; YAP1; YAP1 nuclear localization; androgen; androgen receptor; androgen/AR signaling; androgens; cell signaling; gene transcription; nuclear translocation; phosphorylation; post-translational modification; protein phosphatase PP2A; protein phosphorylation; protein serine/threonine phosphatase (PSP); protein–protein interaction; signal transduction; yes-associated protein (YAP).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Androgens / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Databases, Genetic
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Male
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Protein Phosphatase 2 / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Receptors, Androgen / genetics
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects*
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Androgens
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Transcription Factors
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • YAP1 protein, human
  • STK4 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Protein Phosphatase 2