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Cell Press, Cancer Cell, 6(25), p. 831-845, 2014

DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2014.04.016

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Hippo-Independent Activation of YAP by the GNAQ Uveal Melanoma Oncogene through a Trio-regulated Rho GTPase Signaling Circuitry

This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

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Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Mutually exclusive activating mutations in the GNAQ and GNA11 oncogenes, encoding heterotrimeric Gαq family members, have been identified in ~83% and ~6% of uveal and skin melanomas, respectively. However, the molecular events underlying these GNAQ-driven malignancies are not yet defined, thus limiting the ability to develop cancer-targeted therapies. Here, we focused on the transcriptional co-activator YAP, a critical component of the Hippo signaling pathway that controls organ size. We found that Gαq stimulates YAP through a Trio-Rho/Rac signaling circuitry promoting actin polymerization, independently of PLCβ and the canonical Hippo pathway. Furthermore, we show that Gαq promotes the YAP-dependent growth of uveal melanoma cells, thereby identifying YAP as a suitable therapeutic target in uveal melanoma, the first described GNAQ/GNA11-initiated human malignancy.