Phosphodiesterase 4D, cAMP Specific (PDE4D)

PDE4D encodes one of four mammalian counterparts to the fruit fly 'dunce' gene. The encoded protein has 3',5'-cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase activity and degrades cAMP, which acts as a signal transduction molecule in multiple cell types. This gene uses different promoters to generate multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants that encode functional proteins.The protein structures of these variants conform to that of other PDE4D isoforms, with a variable N-terminus containing UCR1 and UCR2, followed by a C-terminal catalytic core.Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) regulate the cellular concentrations of cyclic nucleotides and thereby play a role in signal transduction. PDE4D is a class IV cAMP-specific PDE. The PDE4D gene is complex, with at least 9 different variants encoding functional proteins.