Enhanced nuclear localization of YAP1-2 contributes to EGF-induced EMT in NSCLC

YAP1, a key mediator of the Hippo pathway, plays an important role in tumorigenesis. Alternative splicing of human YAP1 mRNA results in two major isoforms: YAP1-1, which contains a single WW domain, and YAP1-2, which contains two WW domains, respectively. We here investigated the functions and the underlying regulatory mechanisms of the two YAP1 isoforms in the context of EGF-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Human NSCLC cell lines express both YAP1-1 and YAP1-2 isoforms-although when compared to YAP1-1, YAP1-2 mRNA levels are higher while its protein expression levels are lower. EGF treatment significantly promoted YAP1 expression as well as EMT process in NSCLCs, whereas EGF-induced EMT phenotype was significantly alleviated upon YAP1 knockdown. Under normal culture condition, YAP1-1 stable expression cells exhibited a stronger migration ability than YAP1-2 expressing cells. However, upon EGF treatment, YAP1-2 stable cells showed more robust migration than YAP1-1 expressing cells. The protein stability and nuclear localization of YAP1-2 were preferentially enhanced with EGF treatment. Moreover, EGF-induced EMT and YAP1-2 activity were suppressed by inhibitor of AKT. Our results suggest that YAP1-2 is the main isoform that is functionally relevant in promoting EGF-induced EMT and ultimately NSCLC progression.