Oxidative stress-CBP axis modulates MOB1 acetylation and activates the Hippo signaling pathway

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are constantly produced in cells, an excess of which causes oxidative stress. ROS has been linked to regulation of the Hippo pathway; however, the underlying detailed mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that MOB1, a substrate of MST1/2 and co-activator of LATS1/2 in the canonical Hippo pathway, interacts with and is acetylated at lysine 11 by acetyltransferase CBP and deacetylated by HDAC6. MOB1-K11 acetylation stabilizes itself by reducing its binding capacity with E3 ligase Praja2 and subsequent ubiquitination. MOB1-K11 acetylation increases its phosphorylation and activates LATS1. Importantly, upstream oxidative stress signals promote MOB1 acetylation by suppressing CBP degradation, independent of MST1/2 kinase activity and HDAC6 deacetylation effect, thereby linking oxidative stress to activation of the Hippo pathway. Functionally, the acetylation-deficient mutant MOB1-K11R promotes lung cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and accelerates tumor growth in vivo, compared to the wild-type MOB1. Clinically, acetylated MOB1 corresponds to better prediction of overall survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Therefore, as demonstrated, an oxidative stress-CBP regulatory axis controls MOB1-K11 acetylation and activates LATS1, thereby activating the Hippo pathway and suppressing YAP/TAZ nuclear translocation and tumor progression.