Fig. 2.

Control of tissue homeostasis by TAZ. Under normal homeostasis conditions, TAZ functions in the self-renewal of embryonic and mesenchymal stem cells through TAZ-TEAD complex formation. Differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into different lineages is controlled by the association of TAZ with several transcription factors. Development of adult tissues and injury-induced tissue regeneration requires TAZ expression, which regulates organ size by controlling both cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, uncontrolled homeostatic imbalance may lead to irreversible changes in cells and tissues and subsequently to malignant tumor development. Overexpression or hyperactivation of YAP and TAZ accelerates tumor growth and metastasis by inducing dysregulation in cell proliferation, migration, and survival of stem cells