Roles of mammalian protein phosphatase 2C family members in the regulation of cellular functions

The mammalian protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) family is composed of at least ten different gene products, which share six uniquely conserved motifs. All members have magnesium- and/or manganese-dependent protein phosphatase activities. Biological and biochemical studies have revealed the participation of PP2C family members in the regulation of a variety of cellular functions that include the stress response, the cell cycle, actin cytoskeleton organization, the Wnt signaling pathway, the CFTR chloride ion channel and pre-mRNA splicing. Here, we describe the regulatory mechanisms of these specific cellular functions by PP2C family members.