Specific effect of magnesium ion on 2',3'-cyclic AMP synthesis from adenosine and trimeta phosphate in aqueous solution.

Phosphorylation of adenosine by trimetaphosphate was investigated using various catalysts in aqueous solution under mild conditions at pH approximately 7.0 and at 41 degrees C. The product was primarily 2',3'-cyclic AMP together with smaller amounts of ATP. Magnesium ion was found to have a remarkable catalytic effect of approximately one hundred times greater than the other chemicals tested. The mechanism for the specific effect of magnesium ion is discussed.