Controlling organ growth size is an evolutionarily conserved process regulated by molecules within the Hippo pathway—a unique signaling module that regulates cell-specific transcription in response to a wide range of intra- and extracellular cues. In addition to its conventional role in restricting tissue size during development, Hippo signaling has been widely identified as an important regulator of cellular migration and cell survival, as well as playing a role in the development of various human cancers. Fundamental to the Hippo pathway is a kinase cascade that often leads to the phosphorylation and inhibition of transcriptional co-activators such as the Yes-associated protein (YAP)—a major downstream effector of the Hippo signaling in many tissue types. Due to its highly dynamic nature, the intestinal epithelium has served as an exceptional model to study the complex roles of Hippo signaling in homeostasis and tumorigenesis. In this GEN webinar, we will hear about recent findings implicating the Hippo effector, Yap, as a driver of a novel damaged-induced intestinal stem cell population.
