An elusive adenylate cyclase complicit in cholera is exposed.

The intestinal consequences of cholera enterotoxin are caused by activation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channel through the actions of an as-yet-unknown adenylate cyclase. A new study hunts down this elusive enzyme, showing that mouse and human intestinal epithelium functionally and structurally pair adenylate cyclase isoform 6 (AC6) with CFTR. These findings provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the robust pathological activation of CFTR activity and promise new opportunities to treat cholera.
Competing Interests: This author declares that he has no conflicts of interest with the contents of this article. The content is solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
(© 2018 Randak.)