The influence of temperature and membrane-fluidity changes on the olfactory adenylate cyclase of the rat.

At physiological temperatures, the activity of the olfactory adenylate cyclase of the rat is fairly insensitive to small changes in temperature. Membrane fluidization by benzyl alcohol also produces rather small modulations of cyclase activity, although this chemical also has a more specific effect on the enzyme. Insensitivity to temperature and membrane-fluidity changes are desirable properties for a transduction system which must function in an exposed environment.