Protein kinase C is not necessary for beta-casein gene induction by prolactin in HC11 mouse mammary cells

HC11 mouse mammary cells cultured in the presence of insulin, cortisol and prolactin for 24 h accumulated beta-casein mRNA. When the specific inhibitor of protein kinase C, GF 109203 X, was added to the medium with the hormones, the accumulation of beta-casein mRNA was unaltered, although the protein kinase C activity was almost completely suppressed. This suggests that protein kinase C is not strictly necessary for prolactin to induce milk protein gene expression.