mProX™ Human TAOK2 Stable Cell Line

Ma, Xiao. et al. "Comprehensive split TEV based protein-protein interaction screening reveals TAOK2 as a key modulator of Hippo signalling to limit growth." Cellular signalling, 2023.
The conserved Hippo signalling pathway is essential in limiting tissue growth and proliferation in tumour formation. Key components of this pathway include tumour suppressor kinases STK3/4 and LATS1/2, which control the activity of downstream effector YAP1. Through a split TEV-based protein-protein interaction screen, the authors assessed interactions among 28 critical Hippo pathway components and potential upstream regulators. This led to the discovery of TAOK2 as a pivotal modulator of Hippo signalling, binding to core kinases and phosphorylating LATS1. This process reduces YAP1 phosphorylation, ultimately decreasing the transcription of oncogenes, cell proliferation, and migration. The authors also found a correlation between TAOK2 expression levels and patient survival in certain human cancers, including lung and kidney cancer and glioma. Further experiments using CRISPR inhibition and overexpression of TAOK2 in cellular models supported its role as a tumour suppressor gene. Since TAOK2 is a druggable kinase, targeting it could serve as a potential pharmacological approach in regulating cell growth and combating cancer.
Ma, Xiao. et al. "Comprehensive split TEV based protein-protein interaction screening reveals TAOK2 as a key modulator of Hippo signalling to limit growth." Cellular signalling, 2023.
Pubmed: 37813295   DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110917

Zhang, Hui. et al. "Spinal TAOK2 contributes to neuropathic pain via cGAS-STING activation in rats." iScience, 2023.
Thousand and one amino acid kinase 2 (TAOK2), a member of the mammalian sterile 20 kinase family, has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, but its role in neuropathic pain is unknown. Researchers have discovered that TAOK2 is upregulated and activated in the spinal dorsal horn following chronic constriction injury in rats. This coincides with the activation of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway, which is associated with hyperalgesia. Silencing TAOK2 reversed hyperalgesia and suppressed cGAS-STING signaling activation induced by CCI, while activating TAOK2 pharmacologically resulted in pain hypersensitivity and increased cGAS-STING signaling in unaffected rats. Additionally, inhibiting or silencing cGAS-STING signaling alleviated CCI-induced hyperalgesia. These findings suggest a role for spinal TAOK2 in CCI-induced hyperalgesia through cGAS-STING signaling, making it a potential target for neuropathic pain treatment.
Zhang, Hui. et al. "Spinal TAOK2 contributes to neuropathic pain via cGAS-STING activation in rats." iScience, 2023.
Pubmed: 37720090   DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107792