Fig 1: Proposed model on how elevated DSG3 expression contributes to the suppression of YAP and its mediated collective cell migration. In OSCC cells, mutual exclusive regulation occurs between DSG3 and YAP. In cells with low DSG3, YAP is activated via EGFR-mediated signalling that involves phosphorylation of EGFR S695/Y1086 and downstream Hsp27 S78/S82 and c-Jun S63 and thereby, YAP nuclear localisation and gene transcription associated with cell migration involved FAK and p-FAK Y397. In contrast, in cells with high DSG3, EGFR signalling is inhibited by DSG3 that elicits YAP inhibition and phosphorylation. As a result, p-YAP S127 is recruited from the nucleus to the cytoplasm as well as towards the plasma membrane, leading to contact inhibition of cell locomotion and attenuated collective cell migration.