Zinc increases the affinity of phorbol ester receptor in T lymphocytes.

In the primary structure of the major phorbol ester receptor, protein kinase C the presence of putative metal (zinc) binding sites has been suggested. We have demonstrated earlier that zinc activates protein kinase C and contributes to its binding to plasma membranes in T lymphocytes. Here we report that zinc increases the phorbol ester binding affinity of cytosolic protein kinase C. The effect of zinc on the membrane-bound enzyme is much less pronounced. Our results raise the possibility that cytosolic protein kinase C is a mixture of isoenzymes with different sensitivity towards zinc ions.