FAK controls the mechanical activation of YAP, a transcriptional regulator required for durotaxis Articles uri icon

publication date

  • February 2018

start page

  • 1099

end page

  • 1107

issue

  • 2

volume

  • 32

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0892-6638

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1530-6860

abstract

  • Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a key molecule in focal adhesions and regulates fundamental processes in cells such as growth, survival, and migration. FAK is one of the first molecules recruited to focal adhesions in response to external mechanical stimuli and therefore is a pivotal mediator of cell mechanosignaling, and relays these stimuli to other mechanotransducers within the cytoplasm. Yes-associated protein (YAP) has been identified recently as one of these core mechanotransducers. YAP translocates to the nucleus following changes in cell mechanics to promote the expression of genes implicated in motility, apoptosis, proliferation, and organ growth. Here, we show that FAK controls the nuclear translocation and activation of YAP in response to mechanical activation and submit that the YAP-dependent process of durotaxis requires a cell with an asymmetric distribution of active and inactive FAK molecules.

subjects

  • Biology and Biomedicine
  • Medicine

keywords

  • mechanotransduction; focal adhesions; directed migration