Negative regulator of YAP1 in the Hippo signaling pathway that plays a pivotal role in organ size control and tumor suppression by restricting proliferation and promoting apoptosis (PubMed:18158288, PubMed:26437443, PubMed:26598551, PubMed:34404733). The core of this pathway is composed of a kinase cascade wherein STK3/MST2 and STK4/MST1, in complex with its regulatory protein SAV1, phosphorylates and activates LATS1/2 in complex with its regulatory protein MOB1, which in turn phosphorylates and inactivates YAP1 oncoprotein and WWTR1/TAZ (PubMed:26437443, PubMed:26598551, PubMed:34404733). Phosphorylation of YAP1 by LATS2 inhibits its translocation into the nucleus to regulate cellular genes important for cell proliferation, cell death, and cell migration (PubMed:26598551, PubMed:34404733). Also phosphorylates YAP1 in response to cell contact inhibition-driven WWP1 ubiquitination of AMOTL2, which results in LATS2 activation (PubMed:34404733). Acts as a tumor suppressor which plays a critical role in centrosome duplication, maintenance of mitotic fidelity and genomic stability (PubMed:10871863). Negatively regulates G1/S transition by down-regulating cyclin E/CDK2 kinase activity (PubMed:12853976). Negative regulator of the androgen receptor (PubMed:15131260). Phosphorylates SNAI1 in the nucleus leading to its nuclear retention and stabilization, which enhances its epithelial- mesenchymal transition and tumor cell invasion/migration activities (PubMed:21952048). This tumor-promoting activity is independent of its effects upon YAP1 or WWTR1/TAZ (PubMed:21952048). Acts as an activator of the NLRP3 inflammasome by mediating phosphorylation of 'Ser-265' of NLRP3 following NLRP3 palmitoylation, promoting NLRP3 activation by NEK7 (PubMed:39173637). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10871863, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12853976, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15131260, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18158288, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21952048, ECO:0000269|PubMed:26437443, ECO:0000269|PubMed:26598551, ECO:0000269|PubMed:34404733, ECO:0000269|PubMed:39173637}. This is the function of LATS2 (large tumor suppressor kinase 2, ENSG00000150457).