Spatial resolution of cAMP signaling by soluble adenylyl cyclase

G protein-coupled receptor signaling starts at the plasma membrane and continues at endosomal stations. In this issue, Inda et al. (2016. J. Cell Biol. http ://dx .doi .org /10 .1083 /jcb .201512075) show that different forms of adenylyl cyclase are activated at the plasma membrane versus endosomes, providing a rationale for the spatial encoding of cAMP signaling.