TEAD1 condensates are transcriptionally inactive storage sites on the pericentromeric heterochromatin

TEA domain transcription factor 1 (TEAD1), a Hippo pathway transcription factor important in cellular homeostasis and development, is increasingly implicated in cancer biology. Here, we reveal a novel role for TEAD1 in organizing nuclear condensates, independent of active transcription. Using high-resolution imaging, ChIP-seq, RNA-seq and proximity-based proteomics, we demonstrate that in patient-derived renal cell carcinoma cells, TEAD1 forms micron-sized foci by binding to the heterochromatic pericentromeric regions using its DNA-binding domain. These TEAD1 foci do not mediate transcription but instead serve as depots for excess TEAD1. This contrasts with TEAD1 organization in other genomic regions of both RCC and normal kidney cells, where TEAD1 associates with markers of active transcription. Our findings provide a mechanistic framework for TEAD1's dual regulatory roles, offering new insights into its contribution to transcriptional dysregulation and tumor progression.