Dynamic map illuminates Hippo-cMyc module crosstalk driving cardiomyocyte proliferation

Numerous regulators of cardiomyocyte (CM) proliferation have been identified, yet how they coordinate during cardiac development or regeneration is poorly understood. Here, we developed a computational model of the CM proliferation regulatory network to obtain key regulators and systems-level understanding. The model defines five modules (DNA replication, mitosis, cytokinesis, growth factor, Hippo pathway) and integrates them into a network of 72 nodes and 88 reactions that correctly predicts 74 of 81 (91.35%) independent experiments from the literature. The model predicts that in response to YAP activation, the Hippo module crosstalks to the growth factor module via PI3K and cMyc to drive cell cycle activity. This predicted YAP-cMyc axis is validated experimentally in rat CMs and further supported by YAP-stimulated cMyc open chromatin and mRNA in mouse hearts. This validated computational model predicts how individual regulators and modules coordinate to control CM proliferation.