Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with a PDZ-binding motif (TAZ): a nexus between hypoxia and cancer

• Main Authors: Chenxi Zhao, Chenming Zeng, Song Ye, Xiaoyang Dai, Qiaojun He, Bo Yang, Hong Zhu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020-06-01
• Series: Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
• Subjects: YAP; TAZ; HIFs; Hypoxia; Solid tumor
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211383519308214

Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors. As transcription factors, hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are the master regulators of the hypoxic microenvironment; their target genes function in tumorigenesis and tumor development. Intriguingly, both yes-associated protein (YAP) and its paralog transcriptional coactivator with a PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) play fundamental roles in the malignant progression of hypoxic tumors. As downstream effectors of the mammalian Hippo pathway, YAP and/or TAZ (YAP/TAZ) are phosphorylated and sequestered in the cytoplasm by the large tumor suppressor kinase 1/2 (LATS1/2)-MOB kinase activator 1 (MOB1) complex, which restricts the transcriptional activity of YAP/TAZ. However, dephosphorylated YAP/TAZ have the ability to translocate to the nucleus where they induce transcription of target genes, most of which are closely related to cancer. Herein we review the tumor-related signaling crosstalk between YAP/TAZ and hypoxia, describe current agents and therapeutic strategies targeting the hypoxia–YAP/TAZ axis, and highlight questions that might have a potential impact in the future.