Solid-like Merlin Condensates In The Hippo Signaling Pathway
ABSTRACT
The Hippo pathway has emerged as an evolutionarily conserved signaling network that regulates cell proliferation, tissue homeostasis, and tissue regeneration. We show that the tumor suppressor Merlin, an upstream regulator of the Hippo pathway, forms solid-like condensates that activate Hippo signaling in Drosophila tissues. Merlin condensation required phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P)-mediated plasma membrane targeting, and was antagonistically controlled by Pez and cytoskeletal tension through plasma membrane PI4P regulation. The solid-like material properties of Merlin condensates are essential for physiological function and protect the condensates against external perturbations.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Pengfei Guo is an Associate Research Professor at the School of Life Sciences, Westlake University. He obtained his Ph.D. from Peking University/National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing in 2011 under the supervision of Dr. Xiaochen Wang. In 2012, he joined the laboratory of Professor Duojia Pan at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine for postdoctoral training. In 2024, he joined Professor Kunliang Guan’s lab at Westlake University as an Associate Research Professor. Dr. Guo's research focuses on uncovering the molecular mechanisms that regulate animal tissue growth and development. His work has been published in journals including Science, eLife, and PNAS.