Age-dependent expression of protein phosphatase 2A in the developing rat kidney

Several lines of evidence suggest that the serine/threonine protein phosphatase (PP)2A is of vital importance for cell cycle regulation, cell differentiation, and signal transduction. This prompted us to study the expression of the mRNA for PP2A catalytic isoforms alpha and beta in the developing rat kidney using in situ hybridization histochemistry. The expression patterns of the two isoforms were strikingly similar. Both were ubiquitously expressed in early metanephric kidneys. Later in gestation they were expressed in the nephrogenic zone. Strong expression was observed on postnatal day (PN) 10. This was followed by a downregulation at PN20, i.e., when nephrogenesis is completed. The expression in the adult kidney was very weak and mainly confined to the medulla. In a phosphatase activity assay, PP2A accounted for 78% of the total serine/threonine phosphatase activity in embryonic day 15 rat kidneys. PP1 was the main contributor to the remaining activity. In conclusion, PP2A is the major serine/threonine phosphatase in fetal kidneys. The age-dependent expression pattern supports the concept that this enzyme is of particular importance during renal morphogenesis and development.