Regulation and mechanism of YAP/TAZ in the mechanical microenvironment of stem cells

Stem cells receive cues from their physical and mechanical microenvironment via mechanosensing and mechanotransduction. These cues affect proliferation, self-renewal and differentiation into specific cell fates. A growing body of evidence suggests that yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) mechanotransduction is key for driving stem cell behavior and regeneration via the Hippo and other signaling pathways. YAP/TAZ receive a range of physical cues, including extracellular matrix stiffness, cell geometry, flow shear stress and mechanical forces in the cytoskeleton, and translate them into cell-specific transcriptional programs. However, the mechanism by which mechanical signals regulate YAP/TAZ activity in stem cells is not fully understand. The present review summarizes the current knowledge of the mechanisms involved in YAP/TAZ regulation on the physical and mechanical microenvironment, as well as its potential effects on stem cell differentiation.