Cyclic AMP or cAMP is adenosine 3′,5′- monophosphate.
AMP (adenosine monophosphate) has the structure
It consists of an adenosine molecule with a phosphate group attached to the 5′-OH group of ribose.
Cyclic AMP has the structure
In cAMP the phosphate has reacted with the 3′-OH group of the ribose to form a six-membered cyclic phosphate ester.
cAMP is one of the most important “second messengers” in many biological processes, where it acts as an intracellular regulator.
It is involved in the cardiovascular and nervous systems, immune mechanisms, cell growth and differentiation, and general metabolism.
