YAP/TAZ ACTIVITY AND MECHANISMS OF CELL PLASTICITY - PhDData

Access database of worldwide thesis




YAP/TAZ ACTIVITY AND MECHANISMS OF CELL PLASTICITY

The thesis was published by chang, lei, in January 2016, University of Padova.

Abstract:

In the last few years, YAP/TAZ emerged as powerful regulators of growth and tumor malignancy. YAP/TAZ are regulated by two inputs: the Hippo pathway and biomechanical pathway. The latter involves structural and physical signals that cells receive from their being attached to the substrate and/or to other cells and that chance the tension and organization of the cytoskeleton and cell shape. In previous works from our laboratory, we indeed found that specific F-actin structures, such as bundled F-actin cables and stress fibers are required to sustain YAP/TAZ activity. But the cascade intervening between F-actin and YAP/TAZ remains a mystery. In an independent research line, we also advanced on the biological effects of YAP/TAZ and found that overexpression of YAP in terminally differentiated cells, such as primary neurons, can trigger their dedifferentiation and acquisition of stem cells traits. The work here described represents both an advancement and a merge of these two research lines.



Read the last PhD tips