Cell cycle control by Ca++-ions in mouse 3T3 cells and in transformed 3T3 cells

Total cellular calcium levels do not change when 3T3-4a cells stop proliferating due to serum depletion, or when serum-arrested quiescent cells are incubated for up to 44 hours in calcium-deficient medium (approximately 10 micrometer Ca++). Upon stimulation with dialyzed serum cells enter S and progress through at least one cycle even at extremely low calcium levels in the culture medium (greater than or equal to 10 micrometer). Cells divide until a final cell density is attained which is proportional to the calcium concentration in the medium and cells reversibly arrest in G1. Cells which arrested in G1 in medium containing less than or equal to 26 micrometer Ca++ in the presence of excess serum can be stimulated to enter S in response to added calcium after a prereplicative phase of 14 to 16 hours. Serum does not affect 45Ca-uptake in these cells. Benzo[a]pyrene transformed 3T3 (BP3T3) cells have a 100--200 times lower Ca++-requirement than 3T3 cells but arrest in G1 at low Ca++ levels. In contrast, SV40-virus transformed 3T3 (SV3T3) cells that grow without restriction in monolayer cultures have even lower Ca++-requirements for growth than BP3T3 cells and have no Ca++-sensitive restriction point. Therefore, 3T3 and BP3T3 cells have retained the capacity to sense intracellular Ca++-pool sizes and to arrest in G1 at subthreshold cellular Ca++-levels.