Mammalian particulate adenylyl cyclases contain two transmembrane regions (M
1 and M
2)and two cytosolic domains (C
1 and C
2) forming the catalytic core. The cytosolic domains are subdividedinto a highly conserved region (part a) and a region with lower similarity (part b). Hypothetical modelsexist that account for the mechanism by which G
s and forskolin stimulate mammalian adenylyl cyclase.In contrast, little is known about how G
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dimers regulate catalysis. The so-called QEHA region locatedin the C
2a domain of type II adenylyl cyclase has been proposed to represent a site of interaction. Herewe show (i) that the QEHA region directly interacts with G
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but (ii) that it is of minor importance forthe stimulation of type II adenylyl cyclase because it can be replaced by corresponding, nonidenticalregions of other adenylyl cyclase isoforms without altering the stimulatory effect of G
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and (iii) that theC
1b region is necessary for G
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to exert a stimulatory effect on adenylyl cyclase type II as in a C
1bdeletion mutant the G
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regulation was specifically impeded whereas the G
s- and forskolin-mediatedstimulation was maintained.