adenylate cyclase

Adenylate cyclase is an enzyme located in the cell membrane that plays a key role in many signaling pathways. When certain molecules, called signaling molecules or hormones, bind to receptors on the cell surface, adenylate cyclase gets activated. Its main function is to convert ATP, the cell’s energy currency, into a smaller molecule called cyclic AMP (cAMP). cAMP acts as a messenger inside the cell, helping to amplify and transmit signals that control various processes like metabolism, gene expression, and cell division. Essentially, adenylate cyclase helps cells respond to their environment by producing second messengers that coordinate internal responses.