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LATS2 modulates synaptic organization and function by regulating actin dynamics
Wigerius M, Labana PK, Diab A, Krueger S, Fawcett JP.. bioRxiv, 2026-10-19
Topic: Disease mechanisms in lab and animal studies
Recent work has highlighted the importance of core Hippo pathway kinases in cycling cells. Many of these kinases are also expressed in post-mitotic neurons, where they have been linked to synaptic function, and more recently a number have been shown to be dysregulated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Despite this, little is known about the specific role or subcellular localization of the Large Tumor Suppressor kinases, LATS1 and LATS2, in postmitotic neurons. Previously, we demonstrated that LATS1 plays an important role in synapse development; however, the role of LATS2 remains poorly understood. Here, we examined the distribution and function of LATS2 and found that it is highly expressed in CA3/CA4 neurons of the hippocampus and localized throughout dendrites and dendritic spines. In contrast to LATS1, LATS2 expression remains stable throughout neuronal development. Furthermore, ectopic expression of LATS2 induces kinase-dependent structural spine defects, alters actin dynamics and reduces activity-dependent synaptic SEP-GluR1 fluorescence. Collectively, these findings reveal a unique distribution LATS2 in the hippocampus and demonstrate that LATS2 directly regulates actin dynamics and GluR1-containing AMPAR trafficking. Significance Statement The Hippo kinases LATS1 and LATS2 have been studied in proliferating cells, yet their function in post-mitotic neurons remain poorly understood. Here, we identify a distinct role for the LATS2 kinase in hippocampal neurons, where we find it is enriched in CA3/CA4 regions and localized to dendrites and dendritic spines. Unlike LATS1, we find LATS2 is maintained throughout neuronal maturation. We find LATS2 regulates dendritic spine structure, actin dynamics, and the trafficking of GLuR1-containing AMPA receptors in a kinase-dependent manner. These findings establish LATS2 as a novel regulator of synaptic structure and function and provide further evidence that Hippo pathway kinases play a role in synaptic morphology and function.
Key findings
- Previously, we demonstrated that LATS1 plays an important role in synapse development; however, the role of LATS2 remains poorly understood.
- Collectively, these findings reveal a unique distribution LATS2 in the hippocampus and demonstrate that LATS2 directly regulates actin dynamics and GluR1-containing AMPAR trafficking.
- These findings establish LATS2 as a novel regulator of synaptic structure and function and provide further evidence that Hippo pathway kinases play a role in synaptic morphology and function.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 16/100
Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. It scored 21 on the same rubric, but non-peer-reviewed sources are capped at 16, so it shows as 16. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 13 of the 62 points we could judge it on, which is 21 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 2 / 10 | Tier 4 — not a peer-reviewed journal (bioRxiv) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Not a journal article, so the journal's record does not count |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 4 / 10 | Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. Hosted on a preprint server. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 13 / 62 | Scored on 12 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 13 of the 62 points we could judge it on is 21 out of 100. |
| Total | 21 / 100 | Capped to 16 because this is not a peer-reviewed article. |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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APA 7th
Wigerius, M., Labana, P. K., Diab, A., Krueger, S., & Fawcett, J. P. (2026). LATS2 modulates synaptic organization and function by regulating actin dynamics. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.16.758881
Vancouver
Wigerius M, Labana PK, Diab A, Krueger S, Fawcett JP. LATS2 modulates synaptic organization and function by regulating actin dynamics. bioRxiv. 2026. doi:10.64898/2026.10.16.758881.
BibTeX
@article{wigerius2026-1229dd42,
author = {Wigerius, M. and Labana, P. K. and Diab, A. and Krueger, S. and Fawcett, J. P.},
title = {{LATS2 modulates synaptic organization and function by regulating actin dynamics}},
journal = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.16.758881},
url = {https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.16.758881}
}