Live-cell FRET assay on the stoichiometry and affinity of the YAP complexes in MCF-7 cells

Yes-associated protein (YAP), a focal point of current biological research, is involved in regulating various life processes. In this report, live-cell fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging was employed to unravel the YAP complexes in MCF-7 cells. Fluorescence imaging of living cells co-expressing CFP (cyan fluorescent protein)-YAP and YFP (yellow fluorescent protein)-LATS1 (large tumor suppressor 1) plasmids revealed that YAP promoted LATS1 oligomerization around mitochondria. Moreover, FRET two-hybrid assay showed that YAP directly interacted with LATS1 to form dimer. Similarly, we found that YAP directly interacted with large tumor suppressor 2 (LATS2) to form a heterotrimer with 1:2 in cytoplasm and around mitochondria. In addition, YAP directly interacted with angiomotin (AMOT) to form a heterodimer in cytoplasm. However, YAP did not interact with O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT). Furthermore, FRET assay also indicated that YAP exhibited a higher affinity with AMOT, followed by LATS1, and least with LATS2. In summary, YAP directly interacts with LATS1 and AMOT to form a heterodimer, with LATS2 to form a heterotrimer with 1:2, and shows a preference for binding to AMOT, followed by LATS1, and lastly LATS2, providing new insights into the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway.