Which enzyme catalyzes the formation of cyclic AMP from ATP?

Adenylyl cyclase is the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the conversion of ATP to cyclic AMP (cAMP). This process involves the removal of two phosphate groups from ATP, resulting in the formation of cAMP, which acts as a secondary messenger in various signaling pathways within cells.

cAMP plays a crucial role in many physiological processes, such as the regulation of metabolism and the transmission of signals in response to hormones and neurotransmitters. It activates protein kinase A (PKA) and facilitates various cellular responses.

In contrast, ATP synthase is primarily involved in synthesizing ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate during cellular respiration and photosynthesis. Phospholipase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes phospholipids into fatty acids and other secondary messengers, while helicase is involved in unwinding DNA during replication. These enzymes have different functions that do not relate to the production of cAMP from ATP, highlighting the specificity of adenylyl cyclase in this biochemical pathway.