Cytoplasmic pH and anchorage-independent growth induced by v-Ki-ras, v-src or polyoma middle T

We had previously shown that spreading of normal cells on tissue culture plastic coated with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins led to an increase in cytoplasmic pH (pHi). Since alkalinization of the cytoplasm is associated with activation of a number of signaling pathways that control growth, and is itself required for cell growth, we proposed that this phenomenon could explain, at least in part, why growth of normal cells is anchorage-dependent. Preliminary results showed that pHi in cells transformed by the ras or src oncogenes had an alkaline pHi even when completely round. To further explore the relationship between pHi and anchorage-independent growth, a series of cells transformed by mutants of the polyoma middle T oncogene, and a series of ras-transformed cells and revertants were examined. Growth in methyl cellulose was assayed, and pHi in both maximally spread and completely round cells was measured for each cell line. We found that all of the normal cells required spreading to maintain an alkaline pHi, whereas transformed cell lines had an alkaline pHi independent of spreading. There was a strong correlation between pHi in round cells and anchorage-independent growth. Thus, some plasma membrane oncogenes can substitute for cell spreading on EMC to raise pHi as well as to promote growth. These results may be relevant to understanding why transformation leads to changes not only in cellular requirements for growth factors, but also for anchorage.