Ppp2r2a Knockout Mice Reveal That Protein Phosphatase 2A Regulatory Subunit, PP2A-B55α, Is an Essential Regulator of Neuronal and Epidermal Embryonic Development

The document presents a study on the creation of a knockout mouse model for the Ppp2r2a gene, which encodes the PP2A-B55α regulatory subunit, and investigates its role in embryonic development. The study found that while heterozygous mice were normal, homozygous knockout mice were not viable, with a progressive decrease in the number of Ppp2r2a-/- embryos from embryonic day 10.5 to birth, and none surviving postnatally. The Ppp2r2a-/- embryos exhibited severe neural, cranial, limb, and epidermal defects, including syndactyly, exencephaly, spina bifida, and impaired epidermal barrier integrity. These findings suggest that PP2A-B55α is crucial for neuronal and epidermal development, particularly in epidermal stratification and barrier formation, and that its absence leads to embryonic lethality. The study also noted altered signaling pathways and protein phosphorylation, indicating PP2A-B55α's role in regulating key developmental processes. The research was supported by various grants and all datasets generated are included in the supplementary material.