To complete mitosis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae needs to activate the mitotic phosphatase Cdc14. Two pathways contribute to Cdc14 regulation: FEAR (Cdc14 early anaphase release) and MEN (mitotic exit network). Cdc5 polo-like kinase was found to be an important mitotic exit component. However, its specific role in mitotic exit regulation and its involvement in Cdc14 release remain unclear. Here, we provide insight into the mechanism by which Cdc5 contributes to the timely release of Cdc14. Our genetic and biochemical data indicate that Cdc5 acts in parallel with MEN during anaphase. This MEN-independent Cdc5 function requires active separase and activation by Cdk1-dependent phosphorylation. Cdk1 first phosphorylates Cdc5 to activate it in early anaphase, and then, in late anaphase, further phosphorylation of Cdc5 by Cdk1 is needed to promote its MEN-related functions.

BackgroundProtein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a family of conserved serine/threonine phosphatases involved in several essential aspects of cell growth and proliferation. PP2ACdc55 phosphatase has been extensively related to cell cycle events in budding yeast; however, few PP2ACdc55 substrates have been identified. Here, we performed a quantitative mass spectrometry approach to reveal new substrates of PP2ACdc55 phosphatase and new PP2A-related processes in mitotic arrested cells.ResultsWe identified 62 statistically significant PP2ACdc55 substrates involved mainly in actin-cytoskeleton organization. In addition, we validated new PP2ACdc55 substrates such as Slk19 and Lte1, involved in early and late anaphase pathways, and Zeo1, a component of the cell wall integrity pathway. Finally, we constructed docking models of Cdc55 and its substrate Mob1. We found that the predominant interface on Cdc55 is mediated by a protruding loop consisting of residues 84–90, thus highlighting the relevance of these aminoacids for substrate interaction.ConclusionsWe used phosphoproteomics of Cdc55-deficient cells to uncover new PP2ACdc55 substrates and functions in mitosis. As expected, several hyperphosphorylated proteins corresponded to Cdk1-dependent substrates, although other kinases’ consensus motifs were also enriched in our dataset, suggesting that PP2ACdc55 counteracts and regulates other kinases distinct from Cdk1. Indeed, Pkc1 emerged as a novel node of PP2ACdc55 regulation, highlighting a major role of PP2ACdc55 in actin cytoskeleton and cytokinesis, gene ontology terms significantly enriched in the PP2ACdc55-dependent phosphoproteome.

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Phagocytosis is an inherent function of tissue macrophages for the removal of apoptotic cells and cellular debris during acute and chronic injury; however, the dynamics of this event during fibrosis development is unknown. We aim to prove that during the development of kidney fibrosis in the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model, there are some populations of macrophage with a reduced ability to phagocytose, and whether the infusion of a population of phagocytic macrophages could reduce fibrosis in the murine model UUO. For this purpose, we have identified the macrophage populations during the development of fibrosis and have characterized their phagocytic ability and their expression of CPT1a. Furthermore, we have evaluated the therapeutic effect of macrophages overexpressing CPT1a with high phagocytic skills. We evidenced that the macrophage population which exhibits high phagocytic ability (F4/80low-CD11b) in fibrotic animals decreases during the progression of fibrosis while the macrophage population with lower phagocytic ability (F4/80high-CD11b) in fibrotic conditions, conversely, increases and CPT1a macrophage cell therapy with a strengthening phagocytic ability is associated with a therapeutic effect on kidney fibrosis. We have developed a therapeutic approach to reduce fibrosis in the UUO model by enrichment of the kidney resident macrophage population with a higher proportion of exogenous phagocytic macrophages overexpressing CPT1a.

Macrophages have mechanisms for eliminating cholesterol from cells. If excess cholesterol is not eliminated from the macrophages, then transformation into a foam cell may occur. Foam cells are a hallmark of the atherosclerotic lesions that contribute to the development and rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown changes in the macrophage phenotype and improved phagocytosis after the acquisition of functional mitochondria. However, the effect of mitochondrial transplantation on promoting phagocytosis and phenotypic changes in lipid-loaded macrophages leading to foam cells has not been studied. We aimed to prove that the transplantation of healthy mitochondria to highly cholesterol-loaded macrophages induces macrophage phagocytosis and reduces the macrophage shift towards foam cells. For this purpose, using a murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, we determined if mitochondria transplantation to 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC)-loaded macrophages reduced lipid accumulation and modified their phagocytic function. We evidenced that mitochondrial transplantation to 7-KC-loaded macrophages reestablished phagocytosis and reduced lipid content. In addition, CPT1a expression and anti-inflammatory cytokines were restored after mitochondrial transplantation. We have developed a potential therapeutic approach to restore foam cell functionality.