Abstract

The transcriptional co-activator Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), a key nuclear effector of the Hippo pathway, is a potent oncogene, and yet, the interaction between YAP1 and androgen receptor (AR) remains unexplored. Here we identify YAP1 as a physiological binding partner and positive regulator of AR in prostate cancer. YAP1 and AR co-localize and interact with each other predominantly within cell nuclei by an androgen-dependent mechanism in a hormone naive and an androgen-independent mechanism in castration-resistant prostate cancer cells. The growth suppressor MST1 kinase modulates androgen-dependent and -independent nuclear YAP1-AR interactions through directly regulating YAP1 nuclear accumulation. Disruption of YAP1 signalling by genetic (RNAi) and pharmacological (Verteporfin) approaches suppresses AR-dependent gene expression and prostate cancer cell growth. These findings indicate that the YAP1-AR axis may have a critical role in prostate cancer progression and serves as a viable drug target.

Highlights

  • The transcriptional co-activator Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), a key nuclear effector of the Hippo pathway, is a potent oncogene, and yet, the interaction between YAP1 and androgen receptor (AR) remains unexplored

  • We assessed the expression of YAP1 protein in the histologic sections of normal prostate (NP) and Prostate cancer (PC) tissues by immunohistochemistry (IHC)

  • In the current study, we have demonstrated that a nuclear interaction between YAP1 and AR that is regulated by MST1 signalling, possibly via a LATS1/2 bypass mechanism, may play a prominent role in the emergence of advanced PC

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Summary

Introduction

The transcriptional co-activator Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), a key nuclear effector of the Hippo pathway, is a potent oncogene, and yet, the interaction between YAP1 and androgen receptor (AR) remains unexplored. Disruption of YAP1 signalling by genetic (RNAi) and pharmacological (Verteporfin) approaches suppresses AR-dependent gene expression and prostate cancer cell growth. These findings indicate that the YAP1–AR axis may have a critical role in prostate cancer progression and serves as a viable drug target. AR gene amplification[4], and mutations[5] that increase or decrease sensitivity and/or specificity to its ligands[6], oncogenic growth factor signalling[7], and altered AR co-regulators[8] have been shown to cause an aberrant AR activation, even in the presence of very little androgens in circulation[9,10]. We show that MST1 is a key negative regulator of YAP1–AR interactions, which may play crucial role in AR-dependent gene expression and PC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Our study identifies new functions of the YAP1 interaction with AR

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