The upstream conserved regions (UCRs) mediate homo- and hetero-oligomerization of type 4 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE4s).

ABSTRACT: PDE4s (type 4 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases) are divided into long and short forms by the presence or absence of conserved N-terminal domains termed UCRs (upstream conserved regions). We have shown previously that PDE4D2, a short variant, is a monomer, whereas PDE4D3, a long variant, is a dimer. In the present study, we have determined the apparent molecular masses of various long and short PDE4 variants by size-exclusion chromatography and sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. Our results indicate that dimerization is a conserved property of all long PDE4 forms, whereas short forms are monomers. Dimerization is mediated by the UCR domains. Given their high sequence conservation, the UCR domains mediate not only homo-oligomerization, but also hetero-oligomerization of distinct PD

SUBMITTER: Xie M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4315173 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature