In contrast to the traditional view of mitochondria being solely a source of cellular energy, e.g., the "powerhouse" of the cell, mitochondria are now known to be key regulators of numerous cellular processes. Accordingly, disturbance of mitochondrial homeostasis is a basic mechanism in several pathologies. Emerging data demonstrate that 3'-5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signalling plays a key role in mitochondrial biology and homeostasis. Mitochondria are equipped with an endogenous cAMP synthesis system involving soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), which localizes in the mitochondrial matrix and regulates mitochondrial function. Furthermore, sAC localized at the outer mitochondrial membrane contributes significantly to mitochondrial biology. Disturbance of the sAC-dependent cAMP pools within mitochondria leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and pathology. In this review, we discuss the available data concerning the role of sAC in regulating mitochondrial biology in relation to diseases.
Keywords: EPAC; OXPHOS; PKA; apoptosis; cAMP; mitochondrial biogenesis; mitochondrial dynamics; mitophagy; soluble adenylyl cyclase.