Purkinje cell protein 4, also known as calmodulin regulator protein and brain-specific polypeptide, is a calmodulin-binding protein. PCP4 binds to both calcium-free and calcium-bound CaM. PCP4 regulates calmodulin activity and may play a role in neuronal differentiation through activation of calmodulin-dependent kinase signaling. PCP4 was originally discovered in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. In addition to the cerebellum, PCP4 is expressed in the hippocampus and cortex of the adult rodent brain. PCP4 may regulate neurite outgrowth and neurotransmitter release, and its expression levels may be altered in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.
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