title: Epac: a new cAMP target and new avenues in cAMP research.
abstract: Five years ago, Epac--a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the Ras-like small GTPases Rap1 and Rap2--was found to be a new target of cyclic AMP, which opened up new avenues for cAMP research. Structural analysis of the cAMP-binding domains of Epac2 has identified a unifying mechanism for how cAMP activates proteins, and the design and synthesis of an Epac-specific cAMP analogue has paved the way for future discoveries.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism*; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
chemical_list: D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D007328:Insulin; C116122:RAPGEF3 protein, human; D000242:Cyclic AMP