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cAMP & PKA definitions

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  • GPCR
    Membrane protein that detects extracellular signals like hormones and initiates intracellular signaling cascades.
  • Adenylyl Cyclase
    Effector enzyme activated by G protein that converts ATP into the secondary messenger cAMP.
  • ATP
    Cellular energy molecule serving as the substrate for adenylyl cyclase in cAMP production.
  • cAMP
    Cyclic nucleotide acting as a secondary messenger and allosteric activator for PKA in signaling pathways.
  • Protein Kinase A
    Enzyme regulated by cAMP, phosphorylates serine/threonine residues on target proteins to modulate cellular responses.
  • Regulatory Subunit
    Component of PKA that binds cAMP, enabling release and activation of catalytic subunits.
  • Catalytic Subunit
    Active part of PKA released upon cAMP binding, responsible for phosphorylating target proteins.
  • Serine/Threonine Kinase
    Enzyme class that transfers phosphate groups to serine or threonine residues on proteins.
  • Phosphorylation
    Addition of a phosphate group to proteins, altering their activity and triggering cellular responses.
  • AMP
    Non-cyclic nucleotide produced from cAMP by phosphodiesterase, unable to activate PKA.
  • Phosphodiesterase
    Enzyme that converts cAMP to AMP, decreasing cAMP concentration and terminating signaling.
  • Serine/Threonine Phosphatase
    Enzyme that removes phosphate groups from proteins, reversing PKA-mediated phosphorylation.
  • Heterotetramer
    Inactive PKA structure composed of two regulatory and two catalytic subunits.
  • Secondary Messenger
    Intracellular signaling molecule, such as cAMP, that amplifies and transmits signals from receptors.
  • Ligand
    Molecule like epinephrine that binds to GPCR, triggering conformational changes and signal transduction.