The Hippo signaling pathway controls tissue growth in animals. Those animals that lack the pathway have overgrown body parts; the name Hippo comes from the 'hippopotamus-like' phenotype produced.

Known components of the pathway include:

• The receptor Fat, a cadherin which activates the pathway, and also seems to regulate planar cell polarity;^[1]
• Merlin (Mer), an adaptor protein; and Expanded (Ex), an adaptor protein which acts in parallel with Mer;
• Hippo (Hpo) and Warts (Wts) kinases; and
• Yorkie (Yki), a transcription factor which upregulates genes responsible for cell proliferation and survival.

[edit] References

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