Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a cyclic nucleotide derived from ATP that acts as a crucial second messenger in many cellular signaling pathways. It is not itself a receptor or enzyme but rather an intracellular signal that mediates the effects of various hormones and neurotransmitters that cannot cross the cell membrane. cAMP is synthesized from ATP by the enzyme adenylate cyclase, which is activated by G protein-coupled receptors upon ligand binding. Once formed, cAMP activates protein kinase A (PKA) and other effectors such as Epac proteins and certain ion channels. Through these interactions, cAMP regulates diverse physiological processes including metabolism, gene transcription via CREB phosphorylation, cell growth and differentiation, hormone secretion, and neuronal signaling. In bacteria like E. coli it also plays regulatory roles in operon control systems such as the lac operon[1][2][3][5].

Other names

3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphatecyclic AMPcyclic adenylic acidcyclic phosphate