YAP and TAZ: a nexus for Hippo signaling and beyond

• YAP and TAZ are major downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway.
• YAP and TAZ function as signaling manifolds in the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
• The Hippo pathway interacts on multiple levels with many other signaling pathways and organelles.
• The Hippo network is a potent regulator of tissue regeneration and stem cell biology.

The Hippo pathway is a potent regulator of cellular proliferation, differentiation, and tissue homeostasis. Here we review the regulatory mechanisms of the Hippo pathway and discuss the function of Yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional coactivator with a PDZ-binding domain (TAZ), the prime mediators of the Hippo pathway, in stem cell biology and tissue regeneration. We highlight their activities in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm and discuss their role as a signaling nexus and integrator of several other prominent signaling pathways such as the Wnt, G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), epidermal growth factor (EGF), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), and Notch pathways.