Abstract

How cell numbers are controlled during organ development is a problem that is still in need of answers. Recent studies in Drosophila melanogaster have delineated a novel signalling pathway, the Hippo pathway, which has an important role in restraining cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis in differentiating epithelial cells. Much like cancer cells, cells that contain mutations for components of the Hippo pathway proliferate inappropriately and have a competitive edge in genetically mosaic tissues. Although poorly characterized in mammals, several components of the Hippo pathway seem to be tumour suppressors in humans.

Author affiliations

1. Department of Biology, University of Puget Sound, 1500 North Warner Street, Tacoma, Washington 98416, USA. Email: lsaucedo@ups.edu
2. Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA. Email: bedgar@fhcrc.org

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