The renal Na + /phosphate (Pi) cotransporter Npt2 is expressed in the brush border membrane (BBM) of proximal tubular cells. We examined the effect of Npt2 gene knockout on age-dependent BBM Na + /Pi cotransport, expression of Na + /Pi cotransporter genes Npt1, Glvr-1, and Ram-1, and the adaptive response to chronic Pi deprivation. Na + /Pi cotransport declines with age in wild-type mice (Npt2 +/+ ), but not in mice homozygous for the disrupted Npt2 allele (Npt2 -/-). At all ages, Na + /Pi cotransport in Npt2 -/-mice is approximately 15% of that in Npt2 +/+ littermates. Only Npt1 mRNA abundance increases with age in Npt2 +/+ mice, whereas Npt1, Glvr-1, and Ram-1 mRNAs show an age-dependent increase in Npt2 -/-mice. Pi deprivation significantly increases Na + /Pi cotransport, Npt2 protein, and mRNA in Npt2 +/+ mice. In contrast, Pi-deprived Npt2 -/-mice fail to show the adaptive increase in transport despite exhibiting a fall in serum Pi. We conclude that (a) Npt2 is a major determinant of BBM Na + /Pi cotransport; (b) the age-dependent increase in Npt1, Glvr-1, and Ram-1 mRNAs in Npt2 -/-mice is insufficient to compensate for loss of Npt2; and (c) Npt2 is essential for the adaptive BBM Na + /Pi cotransport response to Pi deprivation.