Retinoic acid-induced protein 14 links mechanical forces to Hippo signaling

Cells sense and respond to various mechanical forces from the extracellular matrix to the actin cytoskeleton. These mechanical forces can be translated into biochemical signals in a process called mechanotransduction. Yes-associated protein (YAP) is an effector of Hippo signaling and a mediator of mechanotransduction, but how mechanical forces regulate Hippo signaling is still an open question. We propose that retinoic acid-induced protein 14 (RAI14) responds to mechanical forces and regulates Hippo signaling. RAI14 positively regulates the activity of YAP. RAI14 interacts with NF2, a key component of the Hippo pathway, and the interaction occurs on filamentous actin. When mechanical forces are kept low in cells, NF2 dissociates from RAI14 and filamentous actin, resulting in increased interaction with LATS1 and activation of the Hippo pathway. Clinical data show that tissue stiffness and expression of RAI14 and YAP are upregulated in tumor tissue and that RAI14 is strongly associated with adverse outcome in patients with gastric cancer. These results suggest that RAI14 links mechanotransduction with Hippo signaling and mediates Hippo-related biological functions such as cancer progression.