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Updated: May 20, 2026

Monitoring Hippo Signaling Pathway Activity Using a Luciferase-based Large Tumor Suppressor (LATS) Biosensor
07:16

Monitoring Hippo Signaling Pathway Activity Using a Luciferase-based Large Tumor Suppressor (LATS) Biosensor

Published on: September 13, 2018

Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase regulates Yorkie activity to promote tissue growth

Joanna Chen1, Esther M Verheyen

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada.

Current Biology : CB
|July 31, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Homeodomain-interacting protein kinases (Hipks) promote Yorkie (Yki) activity, a key component of the Hippo pathway. This study identifies Hipk as the first kinase that positively regulates Yki, impacting tissue growth.

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Molecular biology
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • The Hippo pathway (Hpo) is a crucial regulator of tissue size, controlling cell proliferation and apoptosis.
  • The core Hippo pathway kinase cascade inhibits the transcriptional effector Yorkie (Yki).
  • Homeodomain-interacting protein kinases (Hipks) are serine/threonine kinases involved in regulating transcription factors and developmental processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Hipk in the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway.
  • To determine if Hipk regulates the activity of the transcriptional effector Yorkie (Yki).

Main Methods:

  • Investigated Hipk's effect on Yki stability and subcellular localization.
  • Utilized knockdown experiments to assess Hipk's role in Yki-mediated overgrowth and gene expression.
  • Performed in vivo analyses to examine Hipk's kinase-dependent regulation of Yki.

Main Results:

  • Hipk is required for promoting Yki activity.
  • Hipk does not affect Yki stability or its subcellular localization.
  • Hipk knockdown suppresses overgrowth and target gene expression induced by hyperactive Yki.
  • Hipk directly phosphorylates Yki in a kinase-dependent manner.

Conclusions:

  • Hipk is a novel positive regulator of Yki activity within the Hippo pathway.
  • This study identifies Hipk as the first kinase demonstrated to positively regulate Yki.
  • Hipk's kinase activity is essential for its regulation of Yki and subsequent control of tissue growth.

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