Involvement of phosphodiesterase type 6 and retinopathy

Rod photoreceptor cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase(PDE6),a key enzyme in vertebrate phototransduction,is expressed in retinal photoreceptor cells.As a major cGMP-hydrolyzing PDE,PDE6 mediates the phototransduction cascade by regulating cGMP levels of specific intracellular regions.Domains of PDE subunits can regulate the activity of PDE by direct interaction with transducin.Thus transduction cascade of photon would be modulated subsequently.Incidence of disease such as retinitis pigmentosa(RP)is closely linked with the mutation of PDE subunits.Current research on PDE isoenzymes location and qualification in cells may provide scientific basis for the development of selective regulating drugs.Herein,structure,tissue distribution,expression and regulation mechanism of PDE6 are discussed.Furthermore,the clinic application prospects of PDE6 will be discussed.