Hippo Signaling in the Heart　– Non-Canonical Pathways Impact Growth, Survival and Function

• Published in: Circulation Journal Vol. 80; no. 7; pp. 1504 - 1510
• Main Author: Re, Dominic P. Del
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japanese Circulation Society 2016
• Subjects: Animals; Cardiac hypertrophy; Cell Proliferation - physiology; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila Proteins - metabolism; Hippo signaling; Humans; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism; Myocardium - metabolism; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism; Signal transduction; Signal Transduction - physiology; Trans-Activators - metabolism
• ISSN: 1346-9843; 1347-4820
• DOI: 10.1253/circj.CJ-16-0426

Initially identified inDrosophila melanogaster, the Hippo signaling pathway regulates organ size through modulation of cell proliferation, survival and differentiation. This pathway is evolutionarily conserved and canonical signaling involves a kinase cascade that phosphorylates and inhibits the downstream effector Yes-associated protein (YAP). Recent research has demonstrated a fundamental role of Hippo signaling in cardiac development, homeostasis, injury and regeneration, and remains the subject of intense investigation. However, 2 prominent members of this pathway, RASSF1A and Mst1, have been shown to influence heart function and stress responses through YAP-independent mechanisms. This review summarizes non-canonical targets of RASSF1A and Mst1 and discusses their role in the context of cardiac hypertrophy, autophagy, apoptosis and function. (Circ J 2016; 80: 1504–1510)