Transformation-specific decrease of phosphorylation of 80K protein, a substrate of protein kinase C, in NIH3T3 cells.

Phosphorylation in normal and transformed NIH3T3 cells of the 80K protein, a specific substrate for protein kinase C, was compared by means of two-dimensional gel analysis. We obtained evidence that NIH3T3 cells transformed by the c-raf or H-ras oncogene maintained a decreased level of phosphorylation of the 80K protein, with or without phorbol ester (TPA)-stimulation, at all concentrations of serum tested while normal NIH3T3 cells maintained an elevated level of phosphorylation of the 80K protein. Furthermore, NIH3T3 cells transformed by N-ras, K-ras, src, mos or polyoma middle T antigen exhibited a decreased level of phosphorylation of the 80K protein. These events were confirmed by an analysis of a hormone-inducible H-ras transformant. Thus, phosphorylation of the 80K protein is inversely correlated with cellular transformation.