Diversity in genomic organisation, developmental regulation and distribution of the murine PR72/B" subunits of protein phosphatase 2A.
BACKGROUND
Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a serine/threonine-specific phosphatase displaying vital functions in growth and development through its role in various signalling pathways. PP2A holoenzymes comprise a core dimer composed of a catalytic C and a structural A subunit, which can associate with a variable B-type subunit. The importance of the B-type subunits for PP2A regulation cannot be overestimated as they determine holoenzyme localisation, activity and substrate specificity. Three B-type subunit families have been identified: PR55/B, PR61/B' and PR72/B", of which the latter is currently the least characterised.


RESULTS
We deduced the sequences and genomic organisation of the different murine PR72/B" isoforms: three genes encode nine isoforms, five of which are abundantly expressed and give rise to genuine PP2A subunits. Thereby, one novel subunit was identified. Using Northern blotting, we examined the tissue-specific and developmental expression of these subunits. All subunits are highly expressed in heart, suggesting an important cardiac function. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a striated expression pattern of PR72 and PR130 in heart and skeletal muscle, but not in bladder smooth muscle. The subcellular localisation and cell cycle regulatory ability of several PR72/B" isoforms were determined, demonstrating differences as well as similarities.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to PR55/B and PR61/B', the PR72/B" family seems evolutionary more divergent, as only two of the murine genes have a human orthologue. We have integrated these results in a more consistent nomenclature of both human and murine PR72/B" genes and their transcripts/proteins. Our results provide a platform for the future generation of PR72/B" knockout mice.
Zwaenepoel
Karen
K
Protein Phosphorylation and Proteomics Group, Dept, Molecular Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, K,U, Leuven, Gasthuisberg O&N1, Herestraat 49 box 901, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Karen.Zwaenepoel@med.kuleuven.be
Louis
Justin V
JV
Goris
Jozef
J
Janssens
Veerle
V
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019295:Computational Biology; D030562:Databases, Protein; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology; D010802:Phylogeny; D054648:Protein Phosphatase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics; D015347:RNA Probes; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D021122:Protein Subunits; D015347:RNA Probes; D054648:Protein Phosphatase 2