Possible involvement of beta-PKC rather than that of alpha-PKC in differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells to adipocytes.

The change of subspecies of protein kinase C (PKC) was studied in 3T3-L1 cells in terms of their differentiation to adipocytes. 3T3-L1 cells feasible to differentiate to adipocytes by exposure to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and dexamethasone had both alpha- and beta-PKC. However, 3T3-L1 cells unfurnished with such feasibility had only alpha-PKC. alpha-PKC, therefore, seems to be more deeply involved in differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells to adipocytes than alpha-PKC.