Rat reticulocytes contain a cytosol activator protein (RCAP) that augments hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity in the rat reticulocyte and other systems. In a previous publication, using a highly purified preparation of RCAP, we reported that the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Ns) was required for the actions of RCAP. We investigated this possibility by studying the actions of RCAP on cholera toxin-dependent ADP ribosylation of Ns. RCAP decreased cholera toxin-dependent ADP ribosylation of the 42,000-dalton subunit of Ns of reticulocyte [40.2 +/- 3.7 (+/-SEM) to 26.5 +/- 3.8 fmol/mg; n = 10; P less than 0.001], S49 wild-type (33.9 +/- 2.4 to 24.9 +/- 2.8 fmol/mg; n = 9; P less than 0.01), and UNC (25.3 +/- 3.5 vs. 17.6 +/- 3.1; n = 5; P less than 0.02) membranes. In contrast, pertussis toxin-dependent ADP-ribosylation of the inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding protein, Ni in reticulocyte, S49 wild-type lymphoma, and its UNC and cyc- variant membranes were all significantly augmented by RCAP. Moreover, when reticulocyte Ni was functionally ablated by exposure to pertussis toxin, RCAP no longer enhanced isoproterenol-responsive adenylate cyclase activity in reticulocyte membranes. These results suggest that RCAP stimulates adenylate cyclase activity by inhibiting Ni function, thus permitting enhanced Ns coupling to the adenylate cyclase enzyme (C).