We report the production of a novel human natriuretic peptide receptor/guanylyl cyclase A (hNPR-A)-selective agonist ANP [G9T, R11S, G16R] (sANP). This agonist has similar affinity to ANP for hNPR-A and 1,000-10,000-fold reduced affinity for the human natriuretic peptide clearance receptor (hNPR-C). sANP was used to directly test the hypothesis that hNPR-A mediates the inhibitory effect of natriuretic peptides on aldosterone generation in a human zona glomerulosa cell line, H295R. Human type A natriuretic peptide and sANP (10(-11) to 10(-6) M) resulted in concentration-dependent increases in cGMP levels and decreases in forskolin (100 nM)- and angiotensin II (5 nM)-induced aldosterone and pregnenolone production. These results revealed an inhibitory effect of both peptides on the agonist-stimulated conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone (i.e., cytochrome P-450 cholesterol monooxygenase side-chain cleaving enzyme, EC 1.14.15.6). H295R cells also exhibited angiotensin II- and forskolin-evoked conversion of [3H]cortico-sterone to [3H]aldosterone (i.e., cytochrome P-450 steroid 11 beta-monooxygenase/aldosterone synthase, EC 1.14.15.4). Human type A natriuretic peptide and sANP (10(-7) M) inhibited the angiotensin II-stimulated late pathway but did not affect forskolin-facilitated conversion of corticosterone to aldosterone. Our results directly demonstrate inhibitory effects of hNPR-A-mediated signal transduction on cytochrome P-450 cholesterol monooxygenase side-chain cleaving enzyme and steroid 11 beta-monooxygenase/aldosterone synthase complex depending on the steroidogenic agonist used.