Research progresses on the molecular structure of the Hippo signaling pathway components

The Hippo signaling pathway has been identified to be involved in development and tissue homeostasis during the past decade, and is evolutionarily conserved from Drosophila to mammals. It transduces the signal through a series of protein-protein interaction and kinase cascades, to control the cell number and organ size by inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Dysregulation of the Hippo signaling pathway is associated with tumorigenesis and cancers, so it is a crucial target for cancer therapy and regeneration medicine. Most of the Hippo signaling pathway components have been identified, and the cellular function and molecular mechanism have been revealed by structural and functional researches. In this review, we summarize the molecular structure of Hippo signaling pathway components and related targeting inhibitors from a structural view. We hope to improve the understandings of the regulation mechanism of the Hippo signaling transduction, and facilitate further functional studies and potential therapeutic interventions.