Upregulation of glypicans in Hippo mutants alters the coordinated activity of morphogens

The function of the conserved Drosophila Hippo signaling pathway has been shown to be required to limit cell proliferation. Several studies have identified different target genes of this pathway that could modulate this function. However, the ectopic expression of these genes cannot account for all of the hyperplasic and pattern defects displayed by Hippo signaling mutants. We have recently identified two new targets of the Hippo pathway, the heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) encoded by division abnormally delayed (dally) and dally-like protein (dlp). The function of these glypicans is required to modulate the activity of different signaling pathways triggered by diffusible ligands. Thus, our results link the function of the Hippo pathway with the control of the activity of several signaling pathways required for the definition of the size and pattern of an organ.