STAC1 is required for glioblastoma cell invasion and survival.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is a highly malignant brain tumor with poor prognosis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms driving GBM tumorigenesis is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies. This study investigates the role of STAC1, a gene belonging to the SH3 and cysteine-rich domain family, in glioblastoma cell invasion and survival.

YAP inhibits HCMV replication by impairing STING-mediated nuclear transport of the viral genome.

YES-associated protein (YAP), a critical actor of the mammalian Hippo signaling pathway involved in diverse biological events, has gained increased recognition as a cellular factor regulated by viral infections, but very few studies have investigated their relationship vice versa. In this study, we show that YAP impairs HCMV replication as assessed by viral gene expression analysis and progeny assays, and that this inhibition occurs at the immediate-early stages of the viral life cycle, at the latest. Using YAP mutants lacking key functional domains and shRNA against TEAD, we show that the inhibitory effects of YAP on HCMV replication are nuclear localization- and TEAD cofactor-dependent.

The CRHR1/CREB/REST signaling cascade regulates mammalian embryonic neural stem cell properties.

Growing evidence suggests that the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) signaling pathway, mainly known as a critical initiator of humoral stress responses, has a role in normal neuronal physiology. However, despite the evidence of CRH receptor (CRHR) expression in the embryonic ventricular zone, the exact functions of CRH signaling in embryonic brain development have not yet been fully determined. In this study, we show that CRHR1 is required for the maintenance of neural stem cell properties, as assessed by in vitro neurosphere assays and cell distribution in the embryonic cortical layers following in utero electroporation.

Gamma secretase inhibition impairs HCMV replication by reduction of immediate early gene expression at the transcriptional level.

Due to diverse pathogenic potentials, there is a growing need for anti-HCMV agents. In this study, we show that treatment with DAPT, a γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI), impairs HCMV replication as assessed by a progeny assay based on immunostaining. This effect is not limited to DAPT because other GSIs with different structures and distinct mechanisms of action also exhibit a similar level of inhibitory effects on HCMV viral production, indicating that γ-secretase activity is required for efficient HCMV replication.

YAP Enhances FGF2-Dependent Neural Stem Cell Proliferation by Induction of FGF Receptor Expression.

The Hippo signaling pathway regulates cell proliferation and organ growth, and its activation is mainly reflected by the phosphorylation levels of Yes-associated protein (YAP). In this study, we show that YAP facilitates embryonic neural stem cell proliferation by elevating their responsiveness to fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), one of the major growth factors for neural stem cells, in vivo as well as in vitro. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR analyses revealed that expression of the FGF receptors (FGFRs) to were greatly increased by YAP expression upon FGF2 treatment, followed by upregulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase B signaling pathways.