Multiplexed quantitative screens of single cell shape and YAP/TAZ localisation identify DOCK5 as a coincident detector of polarity and adhesion during migration

Abstract YAP and TAZ are transcriptional co-activators that are often constitutively active in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells driving proliferation, invasion, and drug resistance. Through multiplexed quantitative genetic screens for YAP/TAZ localisation and cell shape, we found that the RhoGEF DOCK5 is essential for YAP/TAZ activation in metastatic cells and is required for the maintenance of polarity during migration. DOCK5 regulates cell shape and thus YAP/TAZ through different genetic interactions with CDC42, RAC, and RHOA GTPases. DOCK5 regulates focal adhesion (FA) morphogenesis in RAC-dependent fashions that promote RHOA mediated actomyosin engagement of FA. Using unbiased systems-level quantification of protein levels by mass spectrometry we show that DOCK5 maintains polarity by stabilising protein levels of the CDC42 effector GSK3β. We conclude DOCK5 acts as a coincidence detector to promote leading edge persistence in subcellular locations where there is both RAC and RHOA dependent FA morphogenesis and active CDC42 mediated cell polarisation.