The effect of carbacyclin, a prostaglandin analogue, on adenylate cyclase activity in platelet membranes.

The effect of carbacyclin, a chemically stable analogue of prostacyclin, on the activity of adenylate cyclase in platelet membranes was measured, and compared with the effect of PGE1. When GTP was added in concentrations up to 10 microM the activation of adenylate cyclase by carbacyclin was increased, whereas higher concentrations of GTP were inhibitory. The addition of a non-hydrolysable analogue of GDP, guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP[beta S] ) resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of adenylate cyclase activation by carbacyclin; this inhibition was relieved by adding increased amounts of GTP.