The PP2A-like Protein Phosphatase Ppg1 and the Far Complex Cooperatively Counteract CK2-Mediated Phosphorylation of Atg32 to Inhibit Mitophagy

Mitophagy plays an important role in mitochondrial quality control. In yeast, phosphorylation of the mitophagy receptor Atg32 by casein kinase 2 (CK2) upon induction of mitophagy is a prerequisite for interaction of Atg32 with Atg11 (an adaptor protein for selective autophagy) and following delivery of mitochondria to the vacuole for degradation. Because CK2 is constitutively active, Atg32 phosphorylation must be precisely regulated to prevent unrequired mitophagy. We found that the PP2A (protein phosphatase 2A)-like protein phosphatase Ppg1 was essential for dephosphorylation of Atg32 and inhibited mitophagy. We identified the Far complex proteins, Far3, Far7, Far8, Far9, Far10, and Far11, as Ppg1-binding proteins. Deletion of Ppg1 or Far proteins accelerated mitophagy. Deletion of a cytoplasmic region (amino acid residues 151–200) of Atg32 caused the same phenotypes as in ppg1Δ cells, which suggested that dephosphorylation of Atg32 by Ppg1 required this region. Therefore, Ppg1 and the Far complex cooperatively dephosphorylate Atg32 to prevent excessive mitophagy. [Display omitted] •Ppg1 and the Far complex cooperatively dephosphorylate Atg32 and inhibit mitophagy•Ppg1 does not affect bulk autophagy, the Cvt pathway, or pexophagy•Progression of mitophagy requires Atg32 phosphorylation and Atg1 complex activation•Deletion of a region (aa 151–200) of Atg32 causes the same phenotypes as ppg1Δ Mitophagy in yeast is initiated by CK2-mediated phosphorylation of the mitophagy receptor Atg32. However, how this phosphorylation is prevented under non-mitophagy-inducing conditions is unclear. Furukawa et al. show that the PP2A-like protein phosphatase Ppg1 and the Far complex negatively regulate mitophagy by counteracting CK2-mediated phosphorylation of Atg32.