Decreased levels of protein kinase C enzyme activity and protein kinase C mRNA in primary colon tumors

Abstract

These studies extend previous evidence that total PKC enzyme activity is frequently decreased in primary human colon tumors. Our finding that this is often associated with decreased levels of PKC beta mRNA suggest that this is not simply due to post-translational down-regulation of this enzyme system. Further studies are required to determine whether these changes in PKC alpha and PKC beta mRNAs are due to altered de novo transcription or mRNA stability. It will also be of interest to examine the expression of other isoforms of PKC in colon tumors.