Phosphodiesterase specificity

On the catabolic side of RNA and DNA metabolism aside from the nucleases which have already been discussed, Zaruba et al. (Z2) have reported on the presence of phosphodiesterases specific for 3 and 5 linkages in skin of newborn mouse. Phosphodiesterases of at least three types present in epidermis have also been mentioned by de Bersaques (B17). Zaruba et al. (Z3) reported that phosphodiesterase activity was higher in psoriasis lesions than in normal epidermis or in adjacent uninvolved skin of psoriasis. 

In addition, vinpocetine selectively inhibits a specific calcium, calmodulin-dependent cycHc nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDF) isozyme (16). As a result of this inhibition, cycHc guanosine 5 -monophosphate (GMP) levels increase. Relaxation of smooth muscle seems to be dependent on the activation of cychc GMP-dependent protein kinase (17), thus this property may account for the vasodilator activity of vinpocetine. A review of the pharmacology of vinpocetine is available (18). 

Theophylline is a non-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor that increases intracellular cAMP within airway smooth muscle resulting in bronchodilation. It has a modest bronchodila-tor effect in patients with COPD, and its use is limited due to a narrow therapeutic index, multiple drug interactions, and adverse effects. Theophylline should be reserved for patients who cannot use inhaled medications or who remain symptomatic despite appropriate use of inhaled bronchodilators. 

Fisher DA et al. Isolation and characterization of PDE9A, a novel human cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase. J Biol Chem 1998 273 15559-15564. 

Cyclic nucleotides are made in response to receptor activation. The receptor activates a G-protein that, in turn, activates adenylyl cyclase to make the cyclic nucleotide. To complete the signaling, the increase in cAMP concentration activates a specific protein kinase (serine/threo-nine), cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A kinase) (Fig. 9-7). To turn off the signaling pathway, the cyclic nucleotides are destroyed by enzymes called phosphodiesterases. These cleave cAMP to AMP. 

When glucagon levels fall, cAMP phosphodiesterase destroys the accumulated cAMP, and specific protein phosphatases remove the phosphate from the phosphoproteins. These phosphatases themselves are often regulated by phosphorylation—yes, there are phosphatase kinases and phosphatase phosphatases. It s really easy to lose it here, but the key factor is that increased glucagon levels lead to increased protein phosphorylation, and decreased glucagon levels lead to decreased protein phosphorylation. 

The family of heterotrimeric G proteins is involved in transmembrane signaling in the nervous system, with certain exceptions. The exceptions are instances of synaptic transmission mediated via receptors that contain intrinsic enzymatic activity, such as tyrosine kinase or guanylyl cyclase, or via receptors that form ion channels (see Ch. 10). Heterotrimeric G proteins were first identified, named and characterized by Alfred Gilman, Martin Rodbell and others close to 20 years ago. They consist of three distinct subunits, a, (3 and y. These proteins couple the activation of diverse types of plasmalemma receptor to a variety of intracellular processes. In fact, most types of neurotransmitter and peptide hormone receptor, as well as many cytokine and chemokine receptors, fall into a superfamily of structurally related molecules, termed G-protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are named for the role of G proteins in mediating the varied biological effects of the receptors (see Ch. 10). Consequently, numerous effector proteins are influenced by these heterotrimeric G proteins ion channels adenylyl cyclase phosphodiesterase (PDE) phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), which catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which catalyzes the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids to yield arachidonic acid. In addition, these G proteins have been implicated in... 

Miro, X., Perez-Torres, S., Palacios, J. M., Puigdomenech, P. and Mengod, G. Differential distribution of cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase 7A mRNA in rat brain and peripheral organs. Synapse A0 201-214, 2001. 

Bara, M., Bourtchouladze, R., Winder, D. G., Golan, H. and Kandel, E. Rolipram, a type IV-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, facilitates the establishment of long-lasting longterm potentiation and improves memory. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95 15020-15025,1998. 

But now, a strategy, used for the synthesis of derivative (622) (lit. synthesis (622) see in Ref. 555), which is the most efficient analog of the commercial drug rolipram with a broad spectrum of action (in particular, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, neuroprotective, and immunodepressing effects), is presented in Scheme 3.286. (The principle action of rolipram is based on selective inhibition of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-specific phosphodiesterase.) Derivative (622) is almost 10 times more efficient than rolipram, but the biological activity of (622) was determined only for the racemate (555). 

GTP-bound a-subunit activates a cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase as described briefly earlier. A benzophenone derivative of cGMP was prepared and found to inhibit several types of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases at low concentrations. In rod outer segment preparations, the [a-32P]-tagged probe... 

There are a variety of structural classes of compounds that are active against each phosphodiesterase, and evidence suggests that selective inhibitors of PDEs can be identified. The structural diversity of PDE inhibitors provides a multitude of opportunities for development of compounds with drug-like properties. Furthermore, phosphodiesterase inhibition, which avoids direct interaction of a compound with a cell surface or nuclear receptor, may circumvent some of the target selectivity issues that can complicate receptor-based therapeutic approaches. As noted above, the specific subcellular distribution of phosphodiesterase enzymes is a key feature of their ability to modulate intracellular signaling pathways. This localization of the enzyme may minimize non-specific target... 

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