Functional characterization of a mitochondrial Ser/Thr protein phosphatase in cell death regulation.

Protein phosphorylation is a major form of posttranslational modification critical to cell signaling that also occurs in mitochondrial proteome. Yet, only very limited studies have been performed to characterize mitochondrial-targeted protein kinases or phosphatases. Recently, we identified a novel member of PP2C family (PP2Cm) that is a resident mitochondrial protein phosphatase which plays an important role in normal development and cell survival. In this chapter, we will describe the methods applied in the identification of PP2Cm as a resident mitochondrial protein phosphatase based on sequence analysis and biochemical characterization. We will also provide experimental protocols used to establish the intracellular localization of PP2Cm, to achieve loss and gain function of PP2Cm in cultured cells and intact tissue, and to assess the impact of PP2Cm deficiency on cell death, mitochondria oxidative phosphorylation and permeability transition pore opening.