A soluble adenylyl cyclase was constructed by linkage of portions of t
he cytosolic domains of the mammalian type I and type II enzymes. The
soluble enzyme was stimulated by both forskolin and the alpha subunit
of the heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) G
(s) (G(s) alpha). Expression of the construct complemented the catabol
ic defect in a strain of Escherichia coli that is deficient in adenyly
l cyclase activity. The active, approximately 60-kilodalton enzyme acc
umulated in the cytoplasmic fraction of E. coli to yield activities in
excess of 1 nanomole per minute per milligram of protein. The two set
s of transmembrane helices of mammalian adenylyl cyclases are thus not
necessary for the catalytic or the most characteristic regulatory act
ivities of the enzyme. This system may be useful for both genetic and
biochemical analysis of G protein-regulated adenylyl cyclases.