The Hippo Pathway Component Wwc2 Is a Key Regulator of Embryonic Development and Angiogenesis in Mice Anke Hermann1,Guangmingwu2, Pavel I
Hermann et al. Cell Death and Disease (2021) 12:117 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-021-03409-0 Cell Death & Disease ARTICLE Open Access The Hippo pathway component Wwc2 is a key regulator of embryonic development and angiogenesis in mice Anke Hermann1,GuangmingWu2, Pavel I. Nedvetsky1,ViktoriaC.Brücher3, Charlotte Egbring3, Jakob Bonse1, Verena Höffken1, Dirk Oliver Wennmann1, Matthias Marks4,MichaelP.Krahn 1,HansSchöler5,PeterHeiduschka3, Hermann Pavenstädt1 and Joachim Kremerskothen1 Abstract The WW-and-C2-domain-containing (WWC) protein family is involved in the regulation of cell differentiation, cell proliferation, and organ growth control. As upstream components of the Hippo signaling pathway, WWC proteins activate the Large tumor suppressor (LATS) kinase that in turn phosphorylates Yes-associated protein (YAP) and its paralog Transcriptional coactivator-with-PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) preventing their nuclear import and transcriptional activity. Inhibition of WWC expression leads to downregulation of the Hippo pathway, increased expression of YAP/ TAZ target genes and enhanced organ growth. In mice, a ubiquitous Wwc1 knockout (KO) induces a mild neurological phenotype with no impact on embryogenesis or organ growth. In contrast, we could show here that ubiquitous deletion of Wwc2 in mice leads to early embryonic lethality. Wwc2 KO embryos display growth retardation, a disturbed placenta development, impaired vascularization, and finally embryonic death. A whole-transcriptome analysis of embryos lacking Wwc2 revealed a massive deregulation of gene expression with impact on cell fate determination, 1234567890():,; 1234567890():,; 1234567890():,; 1234567890():,; cell metabolism, and angiogenesis. Consequently, a perinatal, endothelial-specific Wwc2 KO in mice led to disturbed vessel formation and vascular hypersprouting in the retina.
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