Calcium transduces plasma membrane receptor signals to produce diacylglycerol at Golgi membranes.

Protein kinase C and protein kinase D are potently activated by agonist-evoked increases in diacylglycerol. Using live cell-imaging probes for kinase activity, we have shown that both kinases are robustly activated at the Golgi following stimulation of G(q)-coupled receptor signaling pathways, displaying activation signatures at the Golgi that are distinct from those at the plasma membrane. Here we report that Ca(2+) is the mediator that allows signals received at the plasma membrane to activate these two protein kinases at the Golgi. Specifically, using fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based reporters to image diacylglycerol production, we show that Ca(2+) is necessary and sufficient to elevate diacylglycerol levels at the Golgi. First, raising intracellular Ca(2+) by treating cells with thapsigargin induces diacylglycerol production at the Golgi. Second, chelation of intracellular Ca(2+) prevents UTP-stimulated increases in diacylglycerol at the Golgi. Thus, agonist-evoked increases in intracellular Ca(2+) cause increases in Golgi diacylglycerol, allowing this intracellular membrane to serve as a platform for signaling by protein kinases C and D.