Question

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate was discovered by
A. Bekhor Et Al
B. E.W. Sutherland
C. Beerman
D. Weismann

Answer 1

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate is also commonly known as “Secondary messenger”. These are those messengers or molecules that relay signals which are received by receptors present on the cell surface. Especially when the hydrophilic hormones arrive at the surface such as protein hormone, growth factors etc.

Complete answer:
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate or cAMP which is commonly called as “Secondary messenger” as mentioned above is present in between the bilipid layer of the cell. Cell membrane which is made up of lipids has two layers in which proteins are embedded. Now as we know there are two types of hormones “Hydrophilic” and another one is “Hydrophobic” , Hydro means water and philic denotes loving it means hydrophilic are those hormones which are present and can live in water whereas on other hand “Hydrophobic” means that hates water and are not present in water. So, when steroid hormone arrives at the cell surface which is already made up of lipids (fat) can easily penetrates into the surface and has allowance to travel inside the cell but when hydrophilic hormone i.e. protein hormones arrives at the cell they are not permitted to enter the cell surface and cannot penetrates the layer. So, they get attached with the receptors present on the surface of the cell and now here comes the cAMP from the cell and relay its signals to target molecules. This biochemical process today we are learning has made its existence only after the discovery of this second messenger (Cyclic adenosine monophosphate) which was discovered by American physiologist and pharmacologist E.W. Sutherland (Earl Wilbur Sutherland).

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: E.W. Sutherland was born on November 19, 1915 who with one of his colleagues discovered cAMP (Cyclic adenosine monophosphate). He was only the one told about the metabolic processes that are carried out within the cell with the help of cAMP. He was also awarded with the Nobel prize in 1971 for his work on mechanisms on hormone actions.