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FAK controls the mechanical activation of YAP, a transcriptional regulator required for durotaxis
Author(s) -
Lachowski Dariusz,
Cortes Ernesto,
Robinson Benjamin,
Rice Alistair,
Rombouts Krista,
Del Río Hernández Armando E.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.201700721r
Subject(s) - focal adhesion , microbiology and biotechnology , regulator , motility , cytoplasm , mediator , mechanotransduction , cell adhesion molecule , cell growth , biology , chemistry , signal transduction , gene , biochemistry
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a key molecule in focal adhesions and regulates fundamental processes in cells such as growth, survival, and migration. FAK is one of the first molecules recruited to focal adhesions in response to external mechanical stimuli and therefore is a pivotal mediator of cell mechanosignaling, and relays these stimuli to other mechanotransducers within the cytoplasm. Yes‐associated protein (YAP) has been identified recently as one of these core mechanotransducers. YAP translocates to the nucleus following changes in cell mechanics to promote the expression of genes implicated in motility, apoptosis, proliferation, and organ growth. Here, we show that FAK controls the nuclear translocation and activation of YAP in response to mechanical activation and submit that the YAP‐dependent process of durotaxis requires a cell with an asymmetric distribution of active and inactive FAK molecules.—Lachowski, D., Cortes, E., Robinson, B., Rice, A., Rombouts, K., Del Río Hernández, A. E. FAK controls the mechanical activation of YAP, a transcriptional regulator required for durotaxis. FASEB J. 32, 1099–1107 (2018). www.fasebj.org