Lanthanide ions for the first non-enzymatic formation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate from adenosine triphosphate under physiological conditions.

Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) is formed from adenosine triphosphate at pH 8 and 50 degrees C by use of lanthanide ions. Pr3+ and La3+ are the most active. The cAMP formation is more efficient at higher pH, where the mixture is made homogeneous by the addition of beta-cyclodextrin. The potential functioning of lanthanide ions as the catalytic center of an artificial adenylate cyclase is indicated.