Filling out the Hippo pathway.
How cell numbers are controlled during organ development is a problem that is still in need of answers. Recent studies in Drosophila melanogaster have delineated a novel signalling pathway, the Hippo pathway, which has an important role in restraining cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis in differentiating epithelial cells. Much like cancer cells, cells that contain mutations for components of the Hippo pathway proliferate inappropriately and have a competitive edge in genetically mosaic tissues. Although poorly characterized in mammals, several components of the Hippo pathway seem to be tumour suppressors in humans.
Saucedo
Leslie J
LJ
Department of Biology, University of Puget Sound, 1500 North Warner Street, Tacoma, Washington 98416, USA. lsaucedo@ups.edu
Edgar
Bruce A
BA
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009030:Mosaicism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099317:Hippo Kinases
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C499474:hpo protein, Drosophila; D000099317:Hippo Kinases