Inhibition of growth of PY815 mouse mastocytoma cells in vitro by N6,O2'-dibutyryladenosine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate (DB cyclic AMP) was accompanied by increases in intracellular cyclic AMP and histamine and minor changes in cytosolic cyclic AMP-dependent histone kinase activity. However, DEAE-cellulose chromatography revealed substantial changes in the relative proportions of the principal cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases and in free cyclic AMP-binding protein after DB cyclic AMP treatment. The activity of cytosolic cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase type I (PKI) decreased relative to cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase type II (PKII) and there was an increase in a cytosol cyclic AMP-binding protein with little associated protein kinase activity. The relative changes in activity of PKI, PKII and cyclic AMP binding protein after DB cyclic AMP treatment may reflect events important in the regulation of growth and differentiation of mast cells.