Developmental expression analysis of Na, K-ATPase α subunits in Xenopus

Na, K-ATPase is an integral membrane protein complex responsible for maintaining the ionic gradients of Na+ and K+ across the plasma membrane and has a variety of cellular functions including neuronal activity. Studies in several organisms have shown that this protein complex regulates multiple aspects of embryonic development and is responsible for the pathogenesis of several human diseases. Here, we report the cloning and expression of Na, K-ATPase alpha 2 (atp1a2) and alpha 3 (atp1a3) subunits during Xenopus development and compare the expression patterns of each subunit. Using in situ hybridization in whole embryos and on sections, we show that all three alpha subunits are co-expressed in the pronephric kidney, with varying expression in neurogenic derivatives. The atp1a2 has a unique expression in the ependymal cell layer of the developing brain that is not shared with other alpha subunits. The Na, K-ATPase alpha 1 (atp1a1), and atp1a3 share many expression domains in placode derivatives, including the otic vesicle, lens, ganglion of the anterodorsal lateral line nerve, and ganglia of the facial and anteroventral lateral line nerve and olfactory cells. All the subunits share a common expression domain, the myocardium.