YAP transcriptional activity was monitored via a luciferase reporter assay approach [35 (link)]. Briefly, Lipofectamine 3000 was used to transfect MDA-MB-231 cells with the 8xGTIIC-luciferase (Plasmid #34615) and β-gal plasmids (Ambion, USA). A Luciferase Reporter assay kit (BioVision, Inc., K801-200) was then used to monitor luciferase activity within these cells, while a β-Galactosidase Enzyme Assay System with Reporter Lysis Buffer (Promega Corporation, E2000) was used based upon provided instructions to assess β-gal activity.