ADENYLATE CYCLASES - CRITICAL FOCI IN NEURONAL SIGNALING

Current findings show that adenylate cyclases comprise a heterogeneous multigene family, members of which are variously regulated by the a a nd py subunits of G proteins, by Ca2+ and by protein kinases, In the C NS, individual isoforms of adenylate cyclase are expressed discretely in select regions of the brain. At the subcellular level, adenylate cy clases can be concentrated into dendritic spines, thereby increasing t heir susceptibility to multiple regulatory influences, Altogether, suc h findings greatly expand knowledge of the potential role of this arch etypical signaling system in the modulation of neuronal function.