Effect of Ha-ras on phosphatidylinositol metabolism, Na+/H+-antiporter and mobilization of intracellular calcium.

NIH3T3 cells were transfected with activated Ha-ras and the corresponding proto-oncogene was subjected to transcriptional control by recombination in vitro with MMTV-LTR. Induction of p21ras expression in quiescent cells by dexamethasone causes an increased turnover of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate with a concomitant rise in inositol phosphates, and an activation of the Na+/H+-antiporter. Addition of serum growth factors to dexamethasone treated cells does not result in an additional stimulation of phosphatidylinositol metabolism or Na+/H+-exchange. There is also a desensitization to exogenous growth factors of the intracellular Ca2+-mobilizing system, leading to a depression of the transitory increase in cytosolic Ca2+ after addition of serum growth factors. None of these effects are seen after expression of the Ha-ras proto-oncogene. Results are discussed as indicating a constitutive growth factor independent activation of growth factor signal transduction by the activated Ha-ras.