We have characterized the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor in membranes from the human colonic adenocarcinoma cell line, HT29, using the recently introduced alpha 2-agonist 5-bromo-6-[2-imidazolin-2-yl-amino]quinoxaline [( 3H]UK-14,304), two other radioligands, and a series of adrenergic agonists and antagonists. We also investigated alpha 2-agonist inhibition of HT29 cell adenylate cyclase and reversal of inhibition by alpha-adrenergic antagonists. [3H] Yohimbine saturation experiments indicated a single class of sites with a KD of 0.61 nM which agreed with the kinetically determined KD of 0.62 nM. Computer analysis of kinetic and saturation experiments with [3H]UK-14,304 revealed two classes of sites. From the saturation data, one site had high affinity for the radioligand (0.14 nM) and comprised 33% of the total number of sites, whereas the other site had lower affinity (6.1 nM). The total number of sites labeled by [3H]UK-14,304 (360 fmol/mg of protein) was approximately equal to the number of sites labeled by [3H]yohimbine (330 fmol/mg), whereas [3H]para-aminoclonidine labeled fewer sites of a single class. Rank order potencies of adrenergic agonists and antagonists obtained from competition binding assays indicated that: the same receptors were labeled by the three radioligands, and the receptors were of the alpha 2 subtype. UK-14,304 and epinephrine inhibited forskolin- and vasoactive intestinal peptide-stimulated adenylate cyclase in a dose-dependent manner up to 32%. Inhibition of the enzyme was reversed by yohimbine and, less potently, by phentolamine and prazosin in a dose-dependent manner. The HT29 cell line appears to be a useful model system for the investigation of the regulation and mechanism of action of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in human tissues.