1. Figure 1. The synthesis of cAMP, signaling, and its degradation by PDE7. Ligand binding to GPCRs stimulates a G protein, which then activates AC in their proximity and generates pools of cAMP. The cAMP acts as a second messenger by interacting with and regulating other proteins such as PKA. PKA is a key regulator of cell function and is controlled by PDE and cAMP levels; however, PDE is phosphorylated by PKA. PDE7 degrade the phosphodiester bond in the cAMP to limit the extension and duration of cAMP gradients, and so they decrease the concentration of cAMP. PDE7 inhibitors selectively block PDE7 and stabilize the second messenger cAMP.
Published in: Maliheh Safavi; Maryam Baeeri; Mohammad Abdollahi; Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery  2013, 8,
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