Description
Description: Recombinant human PDE4B (305-end) was expressed by baculovirus in Sf9 insect cells using an N-terminal GST tag.
Scientific Background: PDE4B is a member of the phosphodiesterase family of proteins that play a critical role in regulating intracellular levels of cAMP and has homology to the 'dunce' gene of Drosophila. The 'dunce' gene is one of several genes critical for normal learning and memory in the fly. Altered activity of PDE4B has been associated with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. DISC1 interacts with the UCR2 domain of PDE4B and elevation of cellular cAMP leads to dissociation of PDE4B from DISC1 and in increase in PDE4B activity (1). PDE4B gene itself does not link to major depressive disorder (MDD) but elevated mRNA levels of PDE4B have been implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD (2)