Selective autophagy maintains centrosome integrity and accurate mitosis by turnover of centriolar satellites.

The centrosome is the master orchestrator of mitotic spindle formation and chromosome segregation in animal cells. Centrosome abnormalities are frequently observed in cancer, but little is known of their origin and about pathways affecting centrosome homeostasis. Here we show that autophagy preserves centrosome organization and stability through selective turnover of centriolar satellite components, a process we termed doryphagy. Autophagy targets the satellite organizer PCM1 by interacting with GABARAPs via a C-terminal LIR motif. Accordingly, autophagy deficiency results in accumulation of large abnormal centriolar satellites and a resultant dysregulation of centrosome composition. These alterations have critical impact on centrosome stability and lead to mitotic centrosome fragmentation and unbalanced chromosome segregation. Our findings identify doryphagy as an important centrosome-regulating pathway and bring mechanistic insights to the link between autophagy dysfunction and chromosomal instability. In addition, we highlight the vital role of centriolar satellites in maintaining centrosome integrity.

GIGYF1/2-Driven Cooperation between ZNF598 and TTP in Posttranscriptional Regulation of Inflammatory Signaling.

Inflammatory signaling is restricted through degradation and the translational repression of cytokine mRNAs. A key factor in this regulation is tristetraprolin (TTP), an RNA-binding protein (RBP) that recruits RNA-destabilizing factors and the translation inhibitory complex 4EHP-GIGYF1/2 to AU-rich element (ARE)-containing mRNAs. Here, we show that the RBP ZNF598 contributes to the same regulatory module in a TTP-like manner. Similar to TTP, ZNF598 harbors three proline-rich motifs that bind the GYF domain of GIGYF1. RNA sequencing experiments showed that ZNF598 is required for the regulation of known TTP targets, including IL-8 and CSF2 mRNA. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ZNF598 binds to IL-8 mRNA, but not TNF mRNA. Collectively, our findings highlight that ZNF598 functions as an RBP that buffers the level of a range of mRNAs. We propose that ZNF598 is a TTP-like factor that can contribute to the regulation of the inflammatory potential of cytokine-producing cells.

Osmotic Stress Blocks Mobility and Dynamic Regulation of Centriolar Satellites.

Centriolar satellites (CS) are small proteinaceous granules that cluster around the centrosome and serve as cargo vehicles for centrosomal proteins. It is generally accepted that CS support a number of canonical and specialized centrosome functions. Consequently, these highly dynamic structures are the target of regulation by several cellular signalling pathways. Two decades of research have led to the identification of a large number of molecular components and new biological roles of CS. Here, we summarize the latest advances in the continuous efforts to uncover the compositional, functional, dynamic and regulatory aspects of CS. We also report on our discovery that osmotic stress conditions render CS immobile and insensitive to remodelling. Upon a range of p38-activating stimuli, MK2 phosphorylates the CS component CEP131, resulting in 14-3-3 binding and a block to CS formation. This normally manifests as a rapid cellular depletion of satellites. In the case of osmotic stress, a potent inducer of p38 activity, CS translocation and dissolution is blocked, with the net result that satellites persist in an immobile state directly adjacent to the centrosome. Our results highlight a unique scenario where p38 activation and CS depletion is uncoupled, with potential implications for physiological and pathological osmotic stress responses.

p38- and MK2-dependent signalling promotes stress-induced centriolar satellite remodelling via 14-3-3-dependent sequestration of CEP131/AZI1.

Centriolar satellites (CS) are small granular structures that cluster in the vicinity of centrosomes. CS are highly susceptible to stress stimuli, triggering abrupt displacement of key CS factors. Here we discover a linear p38-MK2-14-3-3 signalling pathway that specifically targets CEP131 to trigger CS remodelling after cell stress. We identify CEP131 as a substrate of the p38 effector kinase MK2 and pinpoint S47 and S78 as critical MK2 phosphorylation sites in CEP131. Ultraviolet-induced phosphorylation of these residues generates direct binding sites for 14-3-3 proteins, which sequester CEP131 in the cytoplasm to block formation of new CS, thereby leading to rapid depletion of these structures. Mutating S47 and S78 in CEP131 is sufficient to abolish stress-induced CS reorganization, demonstrating that CEP131 is the key regulatory target of MK2 and 14-3-3 in these structures. Our findings reveal the molecular mechanism underlying dynamic CS remodelling to modulate centrosome functions on cell stress.