title: PDE4 cAMP phosphodiesterases: modular enzymes that orchestrate signalling cross-talk, desensitization and compartmentalization.
abstract: cAMP is a second messenger that controls many key cellular functions. The only way to inactivate cAMP is to degrade it through the action of cAMP phosphodiesterases (PDEs). PDEs are thus poised to play a key regulatory role. PDE4 cAMP-specific phosphodiesterases appear to have specific functions with selective inhibitors serving as potent anti-inflammatory agents. The recent elucidation of the structure of the PDE4 catalytic unit allows for molecular insight into the mode of catalysis as well as substrate and inhibitor selectivity. The four PDE4 genes encode over 16 isoforms, each of which is characterized by a unique N-terminal region. PDE4 isoforms play a pivotal role in controlling functionally and spatially distinct pools of cAMP by virtue of their unique intracellular targeting. Targeting occurs by association with proteins, such as arrestins, SRC family tyrosyl kinases, A-kinase anchoring proteins ('AKAPs') and receptor for activated C kinase 1 ('RACK1'), and, in the case of isoform PDE4A1, by a specific interaction (TAPAS-1) with phosphatidic acid. PDE4 isoforms are 'designed' to be regulated by extracellular-signal-related protein kinase (ERK), which binds to anchor sites on the PDE4 catalytic domain that it phosphorylates. The upstream conserved region 1 (UCR1) and 2 (UCR2) modules that abut the PDE4 catalytic unit confer regulatory functions by orchestrating the functional outcome of phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase ('PKA') and ERK. PDE4 enzymes stand at a crossroads that allows them to integrate various signalling pathways with that of cAMP in spatially distinct compartments.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Pharmacology Group, Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Davidson Building, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK. M.Houslay@bio.gla.ac.uk
authors.forename: Miles D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Houslay
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D015105:3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D054703:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000201:enzymology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015105:3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases; D054703:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4