Serine/threonine-protein kinase LATS2 (LATS2)

Negative regulator of YAP1 from the Hippo signaling pathway that plays a pivotal role in organ size control and tumor suppression by restricting proliferation and promoting apoptosis. The core of this pathway is made up of a kinase cascade wherein STK3/MST2 and STK4/MST1, in complex with its regulatory protein SAV1, phosphorylates and activates LATS1/2 in complex with its regulatory protein MOB1, which then phosphorylates and inactivates YAP1 oncoprotein and WWTR1/TAZ.

Phosphorylation of YAP1 by LATS2 inhibits its translocation to the nucleus to regulate cellular genes important for cell proliferation, cell death, and cell migration. Acts as a tumor suppressor that plays a critical role in centrosome duplication, maintenance of mitotic fidelity and genomic stability.