Overexpression of protein kinase C βI in a murine keratinocyte cell line produces effects on cellular growth, morphology and differentiation

Abstract The present study demonstrates that the murine keratinocyte cell line 3PC expresses the Ca 2+ -insensitive isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) δ, ϵ, ζ and (at both the mRNA and protein levels), but does not express the Ca 2+ -sensitive PKC isoforms α, β or γ. Recombinant retroviral gene transduction was used to develop derivatives of this cell line that stably express high levels of 1 PKCβI-related transcripts and proteins, and have increased levels of Ca 2+ -stimulated PKC enzyme activity. Functional overexpression of the PKCβI isoform in 3PC cells enhances both 12- O -tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate-induced growth inhibition, and Ca 2+ -induced morphologic differentiation.