NIH-3T3 cells transformed with a ras oncogene exhibit a protein kinase C-mediated inhibition of agonist-stimulated Ca2+ inflow.

1. The ability of bombesin or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) to stimulate Ca2+ inflow (assessed by measuring changes in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration in cells loaded with fura-2) in NIH-3T3 cells transformed with the EJ/T24-Ha-ras-1 oncogene is inhibited when compared with the action of the agonists on wild-type cells. 2. The effects of transformation with the ras oncogene are associated with complete inhibition of the ability of bombesin to release Ca2+ from intracellular stores, a substantial decrease in the number of bombesin receptors, no change in the ability of foetal calf serum or ionomycin to release Ca2+ from intracellular stores and the activation of protein kinase C. 3. The effects of transformation with the H-ras oncogene on the ability of bombesin or PDGF to stimulate Ca2+ inflow were mimicked by a 30 min exposure of wild-type cells to phorbol dibutyrate. This action of phorbol dibutyrate was completely blocked by prior treatment of wild-type cells for 24 h with the phorbol ester. 4. It is concluded that one of the actions of the H-ras oncogene in fibroblasts is to inhibit agonist-stimulated Ca2+ inflow by a mechanism which involves the activation of protein kinase C.