A. S. Yap

A truncation mutant of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) impairs apical cell extrusion through elevated epithelial tissue tension

This study shows that an APC truncation mutant increases epithelial tissue tension via RhoA/ROCK, impairing apical cell extrusion and potentially contributing to disease.

c-Src induced vascular malformations require localised matrix degradation at focal adhesions

This study shows that c-Src activation in endothelial cells causes vascular expansion through focal adhesion signaling and localized matrix degradation, which can be inhibited to prevent abnormal vascular growth.

Pre-existing tissue mechanical hypertension at adherens junctions disrupts apoptotic extrusion in epithelia

This study shows that pre-existing mechanical tension at adherens junctions impairs apoptotic extrusion in epithelia, and this effect can be reversed by reducing tension.

Beclin1 is essential for intestinal homeostasis.

This study shows BECLIN1 is critical for intestinal homeostasis, as its deletion in adult mice causes fatal enteritis with compromised gut barrier integrity and morphological abnormalities.

Caveola mechanotransduction reinforces the cortical cytoskeleton to promote epithelial resistance

The paper shows that caveola disassembly under mechanical stress reinforces the actin cortex at adherens junctions, enhancing epithelial resistance to tensile stress.

Desmosome-anchored intermediate filaments facilitate tension-sensitive RhoA signaling for epithelial homeostasis

The paper identifies a mechanism where desmosome-anchored intermediate filaments enable RhoA signaling at adherens junctions to maintain epithelial homeostasis under tension.

Apical extrusion prevents apoptosis from activating an acute inflammatory program in epithelia.

The paper shows that apical extrusion prevents apoptosis from triggering inflammation in epithelia by eliminating apoptotic cells before they activate an IL-8-driven inflammatory response.

Dynamically regulated Focal adhesions coordinate endothelial cell remodelling in developing vasculature

This study uses zebrafish to show that focal adhesions regulate endothelial cell elongation and junction linearization during vascular development.

An E-cadherin-actin clutch translates the mechanical force of cortical flow for cell-cell contact to inhibit epithelial cell locomotion

The paper explains how E-cadherin-actin interactions mediate mechanical signals from cortical flows to inhibit epithelial cell migration based on contact orientation.

Collagen polarization promotes epithelial elongation by stimulating locoregional cell proliferation.

The paper shows collagen polarization drives epithelial elongation by inducing localized cell proliferation through β1-integrin and ERK signaling.

Asymmetric Contraction of Adherens Junctions arises through RhoA and E-cadherin feedback

The paper identifies a feedback loop between RhoA and E-cadherin that drives asymmetric vertex motion in epithelial tissues through tension and frictional drag.

Nature of active forces in tissues: how contractile cells can form extensile monolayers

The paper investigates how epithelial cell monolayers switch from extensile to contractile behavior as intercellular contacts weaken, revealing mechanotransductive responses and implications for cell sorting and tissue dynamics.

Cavin3 released from caveolae interacts with BRCA1to regulate the cellular stress response

This study shows cavin3 interacts with BRCA1 to regulate DNA repair and cellular stress response, with implications for cancer.

Caveolae set levels of epithelial monolayer tension to eliminate tumor cells

The paper shows caveolae regulate epithelial tension through lipid signaling, enabling the elimination of oncogene-transformed cells by apical extrusion.

Snail induces epithelial cell extrusion through transcriptional control of RhoA contractile signalling and cell matrix adhesion

This study shows Snail induces cell extrusion through RhoA contractile signaling and reduced basal adhesion, independent of EMT.

A mechanosensitive RhoA pathway that protects epithelia against acute tensile stress.

This study identifies a mechanosensitive RhoA pathway mediated by G12 and Myosin VI that protects epithelia from acute tensile stress by increasing junctional actomyosin.