Adenylyl cyclase is the prototypical second messenger generator. There are at least nine eight cloned membrane-bound adenylyl cyclases together with the testis soluble adenyl cyclase. The membrane bound enzymes are regulated by diverse G proteins and are regulated by one or other arm of the
phospholipase C pathway. In addition to ligand-mediated signaling via G proteins, functional and ultrastructural investigations have
shown that adenylyl cyclases are also intimately associated with sites of calcium ion
entry into the cell.
NCBI Summary:
This gene encodes adenylate cyclase 6, which is a membrane-associated enzyme and catalyzes the formation of the secondary messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). The expression of this gene is found in normal thyroid and brain tissues, as well as some tumors; and its expression is significantly higher in one hyperfunctioning thyroid tumor than in normal thyroid tissue. Alternative splicing generates 2 transcript variants.
Adenylyl cyclases in oocyte maturation: A characterization of AC isoforms in bovine cumulus cells. Lastro M et al. Mammalian oocytes are arrested at the G(2)/M transition in the meiotic cell cycle. It is well known that a decrease in intraoocyte cAMP concentrations accompanies resumption of meiosis, but the precise trigger of this decrease remains a mystery. Follicular somatic cells are intimately coupled to the oocyte and are thought to transmit maturation signals to the oocyte in response to hormonal stimulation. Here, we investigate the nature of the follicular somatic cell response to hormonal stimulation by identifying and characterizing the adenylate cyclase isoforms present in bovine cumulus cells. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis revealed the presence of multiple adenylyl cyclase isoforms in bovine granulosa and cumulus cells. Pharmacological manipulation of the AC isoforms showed that multiple isoforms were indeed active. Our data indicate that the PKC inhibited adenylate cyclases IV and VI and the calcium-stimulated isoform I predominate in bovine cumulus cells. Mol. Reprod. Dev. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.