Inhibition of macrophage adenylate cyclase by the alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone moiety of sesquiterpene lactones from forage plants.

: Inhibition of murine macrophage adenylate cyclase activity by sesquiterpene lactones isolated from toxic forage plants was highly correlated with the presence of the alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone moiety on the molecule (ie, hymenovin and helenalin). Tenulin, a sesquiterpene lactone which does not contain this reactive moiety, caused minimal inhibition of the enzyme. Reaction of the alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone moiety of hymenovin and helenalin with cysteine decreased the number of reactive moieties available to alkylate the enzyme, thus decreasing the inhibition of adenylate cyclase by these 2 sesquiterpene lactones. As the reaction time available for the reduction by cysteine of the alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone moiety decreases, the amount of adenylate cyclase inhibition increases. Stimulation of the hymenovin- or helenalin-inhibited adenylate cyclase by prostaglandin E1 or E2 or by sodium fluoride did not reverse the inhibition of the enzyme, but did stimulate the undamaged adenylate cyclase in the sesquiterpene lactone treatment groups to the same degree as in the nontreated control. These data indicate that sesquiterpene lactones containing an alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone moiety are potent inhibitors of macrophage adenylate cyclase activity. This moiety may have a significant role in the toxicity of some sesquiterpene lactones in poisonous plants when ingested by livestock.