X-Linked hypophosphatemic (HYP) mice respond to low phosphate (Pi) intake with a fall in the serum concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] and an increase in the renal activity of 1,25-(OH)2D3-24-hydroxylase (24-hydroxylase), the first enzyme in the C-24 oxidation pathway that degrades 1,25-(OH)2D3 to its final inactivation product. In contrast, normal mice respond to a low Pi diet with an adaptive increase in serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels and no change in renal 24-hydroxylase. The low Pi response in Hyp mice involves a 3-fold increase in renal 24-hydroxylase maximum velocity and a corresponding increase in 24-hydroxylase immunoreactive protein and messenger RNA (mRNA). To determine the mechanism for the increase in 24-hydroxylase mRNA in the mutant strain, we examined the effect of actinomycin D on renal 24-hydroxylase mRNA abundance and measured renal 24-hydroxylase gene transcription by nuclear run-off assay in Hyp mice fed control and low Pi diets for 4 h. Vehicle and 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated normal mice were also studied 2-4 h post-treatment. Actinomycin D abrogated the increase in renal 24-hydroxylase mRNA elicited by a low Pi diet in Hyp mice and by 1,25-(OH)2D3 in both normal and Hyp mice. 24-Hydroxylase gene transcription, relative to that of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, was increased 2-fold by feeding the low Pi diet to Hyp mice (n = 4; P < 0.05) and 5.4-fold by 1,25-(OH)2D3 administration to normal mice (n = 3; P < 0.01). In situ hybridization localized 24-hydroxylase transcripts to the proximal tubule of normal and mutant mice fed control and low Pi diets and showed that the 1,25(OH)2D3-induced increase in 24-hydroxylase mRNA occurred in the same nephron segment. The present study demonstrates that 1) transcriptional activation can account for the increase in renal 24-hydroxylase mRNA in Pi-deprived Hyp mice and for 24-hydroxylase mRNA induction by 1,25-(OH)2D3; and 2) the renal proximal tubule is the primary site of increased expression of 24-hydroxylase mRNA.