MORE | Spring 2021

Control of Tissue Homeostasis, Tumorigenesis, and Degeneration by Coupled Bidirectional Bistable Switches

The Hippo signaling pathway plays a key role in determining organ size and maintaining tissue homeostasis through regulation of apoptosis and cell proliferation. Disrupting the balance between these biological processes allows for pathological tissue states, such as degeneration and tumorigenesis, to arise. The proposed research aims to study the Hippo signaling pathway and how it regulates the transitions between physiological and pathological states. Through theoretical analyses of a mathematical model representative of this pathway, we can identify key reactions that will allow for development of therapies targeting cancers and degenerative diseases.