Allosteric Modulation of the YAP/TAZ-TEAD Interaction by Palmitoylation and Small-Molecule Inhibitors

J Phys Chem B. 2024 Apr 25;128(16):3795-3806. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c07073. Epub 2024 Apr 12.

Abstract

The Hippo signaling pathway is a highly conserved signaling network that plays a central role in regulating cellular growth, proliferation, and organ size. This pathway consists of a kinase cascade that integrates various upstream signals to control the activation or inactivation of YAP/TAZ proteins. Phosphorylated YAP/TAZ is sequestered in the cytoplasm; however, when the Hippo pathway is deactivated, it translocates into the nucleus, where it associates with TEAD transcription factors. This partnership is instrumental in regulating the transcription of progrowth and antiapoptotic genes. Thus, in many cancers, aberrantly hyperactivated YAP/TAZ promotes oncogenesis by contributing to cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Because YAP and TAZ exert their oncogenic effects by binding with TEAD, it is critical to understand this key interaction to develop cancer therapeutics. Previous research has indicated that TEAD undergoes autopalmitoylation at a conserved cysteine, and small molecules that inhibit TEAD palmitoylation disrupt effective YAP/TAZ binding. However, how exactly palmitoylation contributes to YAP/TAZ-TEAD interactions and how the TEAD palmitoylation inhibitors disrupt this interaction remains unknown. Utilizing molecular dynamics simulations, our investigation not only provides detailed atomistic insight into the YAP/TAZ-TEAD dynamics but also unveils that the inhibitor studied influences the binding of YAP and TAZ to TEAD in distinct manners. This discovery has significant implications for the design and deployment of future molecular interventions targeting this interaction.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Acyltransferases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Acyltransferases / chemistry
  • Acyltransferases / metabolism
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / chemistry
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Allosteric Regulation / drug effects
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lipoylation*
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation*
  • Protein Binding
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology
  • TEA Domain Transcription Factors* / chemistry
  • TEA Domain Transcription Factors* / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Trans-Activators / chemistry
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors* / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors* / metabolism
  • Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins* / chemistry
  • Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins* / metabolism
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins* / chemistry
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins* / metabolism

Substances

  • Acyltransferases
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • TEA Domain Transcription Factors
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins
  • WWTR1 protein, human
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • YAP1 protein, human