Gold(III) inhibits activated human osteosarcoma adenylate cyclase by an action at or near the catalytic component.

In human osteosarcoma membranes, gold(III) (Au(III)) inhibits prostaglandin E2- and isoproterenol-mediated stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity without affecting basal enzyme activity. Forskolin activation of adenylate cyclase is also blocked by Au(III) with ID50 of 1-2 microM. The inhibition by Au(III) is preserved in membranes prepared from pertussis toxin-treated cells. The inhibitory effect of Au(III) is additive to inhibition of adenylate cyclase by 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine. These data provide evidence that the action of Au(III) is at or near the catalytic moiety of the cyclase system and that Au(III) does not act via the guanine nucleotide-binding inhibitory component or the adenosine P-site inhibitory pathway.