title: pH sensing via bicarbonate-regulated "soluble" adenylyl cyclase (sAC).
abstract: Soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) is a source of the second messenger cyclic adenosine 3', 5' monophosphate (cAMP). sAC is directly regulated by bicarbonate (HCO(-) 3) ions. In living cells, HCO(-) 3 ions are in nearly instantaneous equilibrium with carbon dioxide (CO2) and pH due to the ubiquitous presence of carbonic anhydrases. Numerous biological processes are regulated by CO2, HCO(-) 3, and/or pH, and in a number of these, sAC has been shown to function as a physiological CO2/HCO3/pH sensor. In this review, we detail the known pH sensing functions of sAC, and we discuss two highly-studied, pH-dependent pathways in which sAC might play a role.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College New York, NY, USA.
authors: Nawreen
authors: N
authors: Rahman
authors: Jochen
authors: J
authors: Buck
authors: Lonny R
authors: LR
authors: Levin
keywords: bicarbonate; carbonic anhydrase; cyclic AMP; pH; soluble adenylyl cyclase