Diacylglycerol Mimics Phorbol Ester Induction of Morphological Changes in Low Ca2+ Regulated Epidermal Cells

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Abstract
It is known that tumor‐promoting phorbol ester, 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate, induces morphological changes in mouse epidermal cells cultured in low Ca2+ medium. In the present study, we found on phase‐contrast microscopic examination that synthetic diacylglycerol, l‐oleoyl‐2‐acetylglycerol, induced similar morphological features. Ultrastructural examination revealed that both materials used for treatment induced morphological changes, such as cell‐to‐cell contact. These two materials are known to directly activate protein kinase C in intact cells. On the other hand, cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase activating agents induced no morphological changes in the same culture system. Data obtained in this experiment suggest that the morphological changes brought about by 1‐oleoyl‐2‐acetylglycerol in this report may occur via the action of diacylglycerol on the protein kinase C system.