Cellular responses to epidermal growth factor (EGF) are dependent on the tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity of the cell-surface EGF receptor. Previous studies using WB rat liver epithelial cells have detected at least 10 proteins whose phosphotyrosine (P-Tyr) content is increased by EGF. In this study, we have examined alternate modes of activating tyrosine phosphorylation. Treatment of WB cells with hormones linked to Ca2+ mobilization and protein kinase C (PKC) activation, including angiotensin II, [Arg8]vasopressin, or epinephrine, stimulated rapid (<15-s) and transient increases in the P-Tyr content of several proteins (p120/125, p75/78, and p66). These proteins, detected by anti-P-Tyr immunoblotting, were similar in molecular weight to a subset of EGF-sensitive P-Tyr-containing proteins (P-Tyr-proteins all P-Tyr-proteins in response to angiotensin II, thapsigargin, or ionophores, as well as two EGF-stimulated P-Tyr-proteins. The majority of EGF-stimulated P-Tyr-proteins were not affected by BAPTA. These studies indicate that angiotensin II can alter protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in a manner that is secondary to, and apparently dependent on, Ca2+ mobilization. Thus, ligands such as EGF and angiotensin II, which act through distinct types of receptors, may activate secondary pathways involving tyrosine phosphorylation. These results also raise the possibility that certain growth-promoting effects of Ca2+-mobilizing agents such as angiotensin H may be mediated via tyrosine phosphorylation.Reversible phosphorylation of proteins is a major mechanism by which metabolic processes are regulated. Phosphorylation on serine and threonine residues, which together account for >99% of total cellular protein phosphate, are recognized as key elements in the regulation of such diverse pathways as glycogen metabolism, protein biosynthesis, and cell surface receptor signaling (19). Phosphorylation on tyrosine residues, which accounts for <0.5% of proteinbound phosphate (12), has been linked broadly with the control of cell proliferation. Receptors for several growth factors, including epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor, contain ligand-activated, tyrosinespecific protein kinase domains essential for biological activity (76, 78). Similarly, the protein products of several oncogenes (e.g., src and ab) exhibit tyrosine kinase activities essential for oncogenic transformation (36,41).The identities of relevant substrates for tyrosine kinases remain largely obscure because of the technical challenge of monitoring transient tyrosine phosphorylation events against high backgrounds of serine/threonine phosphorylation and because of the complex and temporally protracted nature of mitogenesis. Nevertheless, several potential substrates for tyrosine kinases in intact cells have been identified, using combinations of 32p labeling, electrophoresis, phosphoami-* Corresponding author. no acid analysis, and immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting with antiphosphotyrosine (anti-P-Tyr) antibodies. One gro...