YAP (Yes-associated protein) and its paralog TAZ (transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif) are the main downstream effectors of the Hippo signaling pathway. This pathway is an evolutionally conserved signal cascade, which plays pivotal roles in organ size control and tumorigenesis from Drosophila to mammals. Functionally, when the Hippo pathway is activated, YAP and TAZ will be sequestered in the cytoplasm and degraded. Conversely, when the Hippo pathway is deactivated, YAP and TAZ will translocate into nucleus and promote transcription of downstream genes by forming complexes with transcription factors, such as transcriptional enhancer factors (TEF; also referred to as TEAD), runt-domain transcription factors (Runx) and others. Most of these transcription factors belong to growth promoting or apoptosis-inhibition genes. It has been reported that the deactivation of the Hippo pathway, as well as up-regulation of YAP and TAZ was observed in many human cancers with a high frequency, which suggests that the Hippo pathway may be a potent target for developing anticancer drugs. In this review, we provide an overview of the Hippo pathway and summarize recent advances with respect to the role of YAP and TAZ in Hippo signaling pathway and cancer development. Furthermore, we describe the opportunities and challenges for exploit YAP and TAZ as potential therapeutic targets in cancer.

Two novel dimethylphenyl imidazole dicarboxylate-based lanthanide(III)-organic frameworks, [Ln(H2DMPhIDC)3(H3DMPhIDC)]n (Ln = Eu (1), Tb (2); H3DMPhIDC = 2-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that polymers 1 and 2 crystallize in the tetragonal space group I4₁ and exhibit isostructural three-dimensional (3D) solid-state frameworks. Both complexes indicate characteristic sharp emission bands of Eu(3+) or Tb(3+) ions, which are selectively sensitive to benzaldehyde-based derivatives (benzaldehyde, m-methylbenzaldehydes, m-carboxylbenzaldehyde and m-hydroxybenzaldehyde). These properties make both complexes potential fluorescence sensors for these chemicals.

Stereospecific molecular recognition with simple and easily available proteins is of significant importance in life science and biomaterial science. Herein, we report on a chiral sensing platform, graphene quantum dots (GQDs)-functionalized bovine serum albumin (BSA), for chiral recognition of tryptophan (Trp) isomers. Amidation reaction between BSA and GQDs was directly responsible for the introduction of GQDs to BSA, resulting in significant changes in the spatial configuration of BSA and the exposure of more chiral sites at the protein surface. The BSA−GQDs-based chiral sensor exhibited good biomolecular homochirality in the recognition of Trp isomers, and the higher affinity of BSA− GQDs toward L-Trp than its isomer, D-Trp, was also revealed by density functional theory (DFT) considering the possible hydrogen bonds between the Trp isomers and the solvent-accessible residues of BSA.

YES ‐associated protein 1 ( YAP 1) plays a key role as a transcriptional coactivator in the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway. YAP 1 is overexpressed in a variety of cancers and is considered to be encoded by a proto‐oncogene. However, the role of YAP 1 remains debatable, because both gain and loss of YAP 1 expression have both been reported in breast cancer (BC). Here, we found that elevated expression of YAP 1 mRNA in BC was negatively correlated with relapse‐free, distant metastases‐free and overall survival rates. We then knocked down or overexpressed YAP 1 in human BC cells, and examined cell proliferation, apoptosis, and tumorigenic ability in vivo . We identified that YAP 1 promotes cell growth and inhibits cell apoptosis of BC through the phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10– AKT signaling pathway, and thus suggest that YAP 1 might serve as a new target for inhibiting BC progression.

Beta sheet peptides (e.g., amyloid beta) are known to form ion channels in lipid bilayers possibly through aggregation, though the channel structure is not clear. We have recently reported that a short beta sheet peptide, (xSxG)(6), forms porin-like voltage-gated channels in lipid bilayers [Thundimadathil et al. (2005) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 330, 585-590]. To account for the porin-like activity, oligomerization of the peptide into a beta barrel-like structure was proposed. In this work, peptide aggregation in aqueous and membrane environments and a detailed study of channel properties were performed to gain insight into the mechanism of channel formation. The complex nature of the channel was revealed by kinetic analysis and the occurrence of interconverting multiple conductance states. Ion channels were inhibited by Congo red, suggesting that the peptide aggregates are the active channel species. Peptide aggregation and fibril formation in water were confirmed by electron microscopy (EM) and Congo red binding studies. Furthermore, oligomeric structures in association with lipid bilayers were detected. Circular dichroism of peptide-incorporated liposomes and peptide-lipid binding studies using EM suggest a lipid-induced beta sheet aggregation. Gel electrophoresis of peptide-incorporated liposomes showed dimeric and multimeric structures. Taken together, this work indicates insertion of (xSxG)(6) as oligomers into the lipid bilayer, followed by rearrangement into a beta barrel-like pore structure. A large peptide pore comprising several individual beta sheets or smaller beta sheet aggregates is expected to have a complex behavior in membranes. A dyad repeat sequence and the presence of glycine, serine, and hydrophobic residues in a repeated pattern in this peptide may be providing a favorable condition for the formation of a beta barrel-like structure in lipid bilayers.