This document summarizes the cyclic AMP pathway, which is a major intracellular signaling pathway utilized by many hormones and extracellular molecules. It involves hormones binding to cell surface receptors and activating G proteins, which then activate the enzyme adenylyl cyclase to produce the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) from ATP. cAMP then activates protein kinase A and leads to phosphorylation of target proteins to elicit physiological responses. The actions of cAMP are terminated by phosphodiesterase breaking it down into AMP or by phosphatases dephosphorylating proteins. Disruption of this pathway by toxins can impair the host's defense abilities.