Q15121

PEA-15 is a death effector domain-containing protein that functions as a negative regulator of apoptosis. PEA-15 plays a crucial role in regulating apoptotic signaling pathways due to a unique structure, which includes a death effector domain (DED) within its first 80 amino acids. This DED is essential for PEA-15′s ability to inhibit Ras suppression, thereby influencing cell survival and apoptosis. PEA-15 exists in three forms: a non-phosphorylated form and two phosphorylated forms, which are regulated by protein kinase C (PKC). The phosphorylation status of PEA-15 changes in response to microtubule dynamics, indicating colocalization with these structures. While predominantly expressed in the central nervous system, PEA-15 is also found in lower levels in the liver and kidney, and at higher levels in muscle tissue. PEA-15 is also referred to as Phosphoprotein Enriched in Diabetes (PED) due to increased expression in individuals with type 2 diabetes, highlighting a potential role in metabolic regulation and disease.