Aberrant MET activation impairs perinuclear actin cap organization with YAP1 cytosolic relocation

Little is known about the signaling network responsible for the organization of the perinuclear actin cap, a recently identified structure holding unique roles in the regulation of nuclear shape and cell directionality. In cancer cells expressing a constitutively active MET, we show a rearrangement of the actin cap filaments, which crash into perinuclear patches associated with spherical nuclei, meandering cell motility and inactivation of the mechano-transducer YAP1. MET ablation is sufficient to reactivate YAP1 and restore the cap, leading to enhanced directionality and flattened nuclei. Consistently, the introduction of a hyperactive MET in normal epithelial cells, enhances nuclear height and alters the cap organization, as also confirmed by TEM analysis. Finally, the constitutively active YAP1 mutant YAP5SA is able to overcome the effects of oncogenic MET. Overall, our work describes a signaling axis empowering MET-mediated YAP1 dampening and actin cap misalignment, with implications for nuclear shape and cell motility.Analysis of actin dynamics in cancer reveals that MET hyperactivation drives perinuclear actin cap disruption by YAP1 inhibition, inducing nuclear expansion, meandering cell motility and collapse of the apical microvilli into actin-rich patches.