Adenylate cyclase

Adenylate cyclase (AC) is a membrane-bound enzyme whose core function is to catalyze the conversion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into the second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), thereby translating extracellular chemical signals into intracellular signaling cascades. Adenylate cyclase serves not only as a key downstream effector of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), but its transmembrane domain itself can also function as a direct receptor for lipid signals. This dual regulatory mechanism has opened up entirely new directions for drug target research in cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic diseases.