Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 26, 2025

All-optical Mechanobiology Interrogation of Yes-associated Protein in Human Cancer and Normal Cells using a Multi-functional System
Published on: December 20, 2021
Synthetic dysmobility screen unveils an integrated STK40-YAP-MAPK system driving cell migration
Ling-Yea Yu1,2, Ting-Jen Tseng1, Hsuan-Chao Lin3
1Department of Pharmacology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Integrating signals is essential for cell survival, leading to the concept of synthetic lethality. However, how signaling is integrated to control cell migration remains unclear. By conducting a "two-hit" screen, we revealed the synergistic reduction of cell migration when serine-threonine kinase 40 (STK40) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were simultaneously suppressed. Single-cell analyses showed that STK40 knockdown reduced cell motility and coordination by strengthening focal adhesion (FA) complexes. Furthermore, STK40 knockdown reduced the stability of yes-associated protein (YAP) and subsequently decreased YAP transported into the nucleus, while MAPK inhibition further weakened YAP activities in the nucleus to disturb FA remodeling. Together, we unveiled an integrated STK40-YAP-MAPK system regulating cell migration and introduced "synthetic dysmobility" as a novel strategy to collaboratively control cell migration.
Related Concept Videos
Cell Migration
Cell Migration
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration
Role of Myosin in Cell Migration
Myosin II is a hexamer comprising two heavy chains with globular heads and coiled-coil tails, two regulatory light chains, and two essential light chains. The ATPase sites on the myosin heads hydrolyze ATP, and the released phosphate generates the force for contraction....
Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration
Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia

