"Soluble" adenylyl cyclase-generated cyclic adenosine monophosphate promotes fast migration in PC12 cells.

In a model for neuronal movement, PC12 cells undergo fast migration in response to nerve growth factor (NGF) and phorbol ester (PMA). We previously showed that NGF increases intracellular cAMP via activation of soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC). In this report, we demonstrate that sAC activation is an essential component of NGF- + PMA-induced fast migration in PC12 cells. Interestingly, PMA also raises intracellular cAMP but does so by stimulating transmembrane adenylyl cyclases (tmAC); however, this tmAC-generated cAMP does not contribute to fast migration. Therefore, cells must possess independent pools of cAMP capable of modulating distinct functions.