Phosphoprotein Enriched In Astrocytes 15 (PEA15)

PEA15 is a death effector domain (DED)-containing protein predominantly expressed in the central nervous system, particularly in astrocytes.

The ubiquitously expressed 2.8-kb PED mRNA was overexpressed in fibroblasts, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue from type II diabetics. Levels of the 15-kD PED phosphoprotein were also elevated in type II diabetic tissues. The authors demonstrated that transfection of a PED cDNA into differentiating L6 skeletal muscle cells increases the content of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) on the plasma membrane and inhibits insulin-stimulated glucose transport and cell surface recruitment of glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4). These effects were reversed by blocking PKC activity.