Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Drug-induced Sensitization of Adenylyl Cyclase: Assay Streamlining and Miniaturization for Small Molecule and siRNA Screening Applications
Published on: January 27, 2014
Inhibitory coupling of hormone and neurotransmitter receptors to adenylate cyclase
Abstract:
The last few years have provided evidence that beside the familiar and partially well characterized stimulation of the adenylate cyclase the enzyme is also subject to a hormone and neurotransmitter-induced inhibition serving as a general information-transfer system. Similar to hormonal stimulation, the coupling of the inhibitory hormone receptors to adenylate cyclase is mediated by a GTP-dependent process. In some membrane systems, the inhibitory coupling is additionally amplified by sodium ions. Inhibitory hormones stimulate a high affinity GTPase in plasma membranes. The observed correlation suggests that there is a close connection between the hormone-induced adenylate cyclase inhibition and GTPase stimulation. Several lines of evidence are presented suggesting that the guanine nucleotide-dependent component apparently involved in adenylate cyclase inhibition and apparently exhibiting GTPase activity is at least partially different from that involved in adenylate cyclase stimulation by hormones.
Related Concept Videos
G-protein Coupled Receptors
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
G Protein-coupled Receptors
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels
Sensory organs,...
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
Two...
Secondary Messengers in Hormone Action
Many hormones bind to transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors that connect to regulatory G proteins. These G proteins can then activate enzymes such as adenylyl cyclase or phospholipase C. Adenylyl cyclase converts ATP to cAMP, activating...

