Function
TEAD1 (Transcription Enhancer Factor 1) is a transcription factor that plays a crucial role in the Hippo signaling pathway. This pathway is involved in regulating organ size and suppressing tumor development by controlling cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis. The core of the Hippo pathway comprises a kinase cascade where MST1/MST2, in complex with its regulatory protein SAV1, phosphorylates and activates LATS1/2, which is in turn associated with the regulatory protein MOB1. Activated LATS1/2 then phosphorylates and inactivates the YAP1 oncoprotein and WWTR1/TAZ. TEAD1 mediates gene expression of YAP1 and WWTR1/TAZ, thereby regulating crucial cellular processes including proliferation, migration, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) induction. It specifically and cooperatively binds to the SPH and GT-IIC 'enhansons' (5'-GTGGAATGT-3') and activates transcription in vivo in a cell-specific manner. This activation function appears to be mediated by a limiting cell-specific transcriptional intermediary factor (TIF). TEAD1 is also involved in cardiac development. Notably, TEAD1 binds to the M-CAT motif.