PDEs tissue expression

Today 11 members of the human PDE superfamily are known, all of which are class I phosphodiesterases and all of which are intracellular or membrane-bound enzymes. Several of the isoenzymes are encoded by more than one gene which, in combination with the presence of different splice variants, brings the number of different PDE proteins to well over 50. The different isoenzymes are characterized according to their substrate specificity, sequence homology, kinetic properties, and sensitivity to certain known PDE inhibitors. Table 9.1 shows these properties together with the predominant tissue expression of the various PDEs. 

The second messenger molecules Ca2+ and cyclic AMP (cAMP) provide major routes for controlling cellular functions. In many instances, calcium (Ca2+) achieves its intracellular effects by binding to the receptor protein calmodulin. Calmodulin has the ability to associate with and modulate different proteins in a Ca2+-dependent and reversible manner. Calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (CaMPDE, EC 3.1.4.17) is one of the key enzymes involved in the complex interactions that occur between the cyclic-nucleotide and Ca2+ second messenger systems (see Figure 13.2). CaMPDE exists in different isozymic forms, which exhibit distinct molecular and catalytic properties. The differential expression and regulation of individual phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes in different tissues relates to their function in the body. 

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