The role of cAMP in toxicology is primarily associated with its ability to modulate cellular signaling pathways. When a toxin or drug binds to its specific receptor, it can activate or inhibit G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which in turn modulate the activity of adenylate cyclase, the enzyme responsible for converting ATP to cAMP. This leads to alterations in cAMP levels, impacting various downstream effects such as protein kinase A (PKA) activation, ion channel modulation, and gene transcription.
