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Updated: Feb 27, 2026

Author Spotlight: Developing Tools to Tune the Activity of Tyrosine Phosphatases
Published on: September 6, 2024
Substrate rigidity-dependent positive feedback regulation between YAP and ROCK2
Wataru Sugimoto1, Katsuhiko Itoh1, Yasumasa Mitsui1
1a Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology , Konan University , Kobe, Hyogo , Japan.
Abstract:
Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness influences gene expression, leading to modulation of various cellular functions. While ROCK2 regulates actomyosin activity as well as cell migration and proliferation, expression of ROCK2 is increased in response to stiffening ECM. However, the mechanism underlying rigidity-dependent ROCK2 expression remains elusive. Here, we show that YAP, a mechanically regulated transcription coactivator, upregulates ROCK2 expression in an ECM rigidity-dependent manner. YAP interacted with the ROCK2 promoter region in an actomyosin activity-dependent manner. Knockdown of YAP decreased ROCK2 expression while activity of the ROCK2 promoter was upregulated by expressing constitutively active YAP. Furthermore, we found that ROCK2 expression promotes transcriptional activation by YAP. Our results reveal a novel positive feedback loop between YAP and ROCK2, which is modulated by ECM stiffness.
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