Tissue-specific expression of mRNAs encoding alpha- and beta-catalytic subunits of protein phosphatase 2A

Abstract

The mRNAs encoding the catalytic subunits of the type 1 phosphatase and the alpha and beta forms of phosphatase 2A (termed 2A alpha and 2A beta) were detected in all the porcine tissues examined (brain, heart, muscle, liver, kidney and ovaries). Total phosphatase 2A transcripts were about 10 times more abundant in brain and heart than in the other tissues while the distribution of phosphatase 1 mRNA showed significantly less variation. Phosphatase 2A alpha mRNA was about 10 times more abundant than phosphatase 2A beta mRNA in most tissues. Similarly, both the alpha and beta forms of the mRNA of the catalytic subunit of the phosphatase 2A were present in all the rat tissues examined. In addition to the 2 kb mRNA generally expressed, rat tissues also express a 2.8 kb mRNA related to 2A alpha and a 1.3 kb mRNA related to 2A beta.