Collectrin, a collecting duct-specific transmembrane glycoprotein, is a novel homolog of ACE2 and is developmentally regulated in embryonic kidneys

Collectrin, a novel homolog of angiotensin-converting enzyme-related carboxypeptidase (ACE2), was identified during polymerase chain reaction-based cDNA subtraction and up-regulated in 5/6 ablated kidneys at hypertrophic phase. Collectrin, with 222 amino acids, has an apparent signal peptide and a transmembrane domain; the sequence is conserved in mouse, rat, and human and shares 81.9% identity. Human collectrin has 47.8% identity with non-catalytic extracellular, transmembrane, and cytosolic domains of AGES; however, unlike ACE and AGES, collectrin lacks active dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase catalytic domains. The collectrin mRNA transcripts are expressed exclusively in the kidney. In situ hybridization reveals its mRNA expression in renal collecting ducts, and immunohistochemistry shows that it is localized to the luminal surface and cytoplasm of collecting ducts. Immunoprecipitation studies, using [S-35]methionine-labeled renal cortical and inner medullar collecting duct cells, i.e. M-1 and mIMCD-3, indicate that the protein size is similar to 32 kDa. During the development of mouse kidney, mRNA signal is detectable at day 13 of gestation, and the protein product is observed in the ureteric bud branches. Its expression is progressively increased during later stages of the gestation extending into the neonatal periods and then is decreased in adult life. Up-regulated expression of collectrin in the hypertrophic kidneys after renal ablation and restricted spatio-temporal expression during development indicates a possible role(s) in the process of progressive renal failure and renal organogenesis.