Adenylate cyclase 5

The membrane-bound adenylyl cyclases (ACs) represent one of the major families of effector enzymes for G protein-coupled receptors.  Nine human AC isoforms (AC-1 through AC-9), encoded by separate genes, have been identified up to now (1).  Most of the adenylate cyclase genes are comprise of 11-26 exons and distributed over a q6-430 kb.  Majority of the adenylate cyclases previously described are expressed discretely in defined peripheral tissues, the type 4 adenylate cyclase (AC-4) is apparently expressed in a  variety of peripheral tissues and in the central nervous system, mainly in olfactory system.  AC-5 is localized on photoreceptor cells and are also designated as GC1 and GC2.  The AC-5 protein resembles the other adenylyl cyclases in its predicted and proposed structure.  AC-5 resembles the type 6 (AC-6) adenylyl cyclase in its amino acid sequence but becomes divergent at N and C-terminal ends.  The AC5 and AC6 proteins are colocalized in most of the visual organs (photoreceptor cells) are associated with other protein complexes.  Both AC5 and AC6 enzymes play an important role in synaptic plasticity by coordinating overlapping synaptic inputs from Gs and Gi coupled receptor stimulation (3). 

For research use only, not for diagnostic or therapeutic use.