2. Academic Validation
  3. Yki stability and activity are regulated by Ca2+-calpains axis in Drosophila

Yki stability and activity are regulated by Ca2+-calpains axis in Drosophila

  • J Genet Genomics. 2024 Apr 23:S1673-8527(24)00082-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.04.011.
Chaojun Zhai 1,  Yunfeng Wang 1,  Shenao Qi 1,  Muhan Yang 1,  Shian Wu 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
  • 2 The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China. Electronic address: wusa@nankai.edu.cn.
PMID: 38663479 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.04.011
Abstract

Yorkie (Yki) is a key effector of the Hippo pathway that activates the expression of targets by associating with the transcription factor Scalloped (Sd). Various upstream signals, such as cell polarity and mechanical cues, control transcriptional programs by regulating Yki activity. Searching for Yki regulatory factors has far-reaching significance for studying the Hippo pathway in animal development and human diseases. In this study, we identify Calpain-A (CalpA) and Calpain-B (CalpB), two calcium (CA2+)-dependent modulatory proteases of the calpain family, as critical regulators of Yki in Drosophila that interact with Yki respectively. CA2+ induces Yki cleavage in a CalpA/CalpB-dependent manner, and the Protease activity of CalpA/CalpB is pivotal for the cleavage. Furthermore, overexpression of CalpA or CalpB in Drosophila partially restores the large wing phenotype caused by Yki overexpression, and F98 of Yki is an important cleavage site by the CA2+-calpains axis. Our study uncovers a unique mechanism whereby the CA2+-calpain axis modulates Yki activity through protein cleavage.

Keywords

CalpA; CalpB; Drosophila; Hippo pathway; Yki; calcium.

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