Figure 1

General structure of the PFKFB3 gene and protein. (a) The PFKFB3 gene contains at least 19 exons, which can be divided into 2 regions, the constant and variable regions. The variable region contains seven exons named A–G, and variations in the exons in this region leads to six isoforms of PFKFB3. PFKFB3 contains multiple copies of the AUUUA instability element in its 3′UTR. (b) The PFKFB3 protein has two homodimeric subunits. Each subunit of PFKFB3 comprises two functional domains: an N-terminal kinase domain and a C-terminal phosphatase domain. The kinase activity catalyzes the production of F2,6P2 and ADP from F6P and ATP, which highly promote the glycolytic pathway. The phosphatase activity dephosphorylates F2,6P2 to produce F6P and Pi.