HIP/PAP is a C-type lectin overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Pleiotropic biological activities have been ascribed to this protein, but little is known about the function of HIP/PAP in the liver. In this study, therefore, we searched for proteins interacting with HIP/PAP by screening a HCC cDNA expression library. We have identified the RIIa regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) as a partner of HIP/PAP. HIP/PAP and RIIa were coimmunoprecipitated in HIP/PAP expressing cells. The biological relevance of the interaction between these proteins was established by demonstrating, using fractionation methods, that they are located in a same subcellular compartment. Indeed, though HIP/PAP is a protein secreted via the Golgi apparatus we showed that a fraction of HIP/PAP escaped the secretory apparatus and was recovered in the cytosol. Basal PKA activity was increased in HIP/PAP expressing cells, suggesting that HIP/PAP may alter PKA signalling. Indeed, we showed, using a thymidine kinase-luciferase reporter plasmid in which a cAMP responsive element was inserted upstream of the thymidine kinase promoter, that luciferase activity was enhanced in HIP/PAP expressing cells. Thus our findings suggest a novel mechanism for the biological activity of the HIP/PAP lectin.Keywords: C-type lectin; HIP/PAP; PKA; phosphorylation; liver.The HIP/PAP-encoding gene has been shown to be overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [1] and in the pancreas during acute pancreatitis [2]. HIP/ PAP has been characterized as a protein belonging to the group 7 of C-type lectins [3,4]. HIP/PAP cDNA encodes a 175 amino acid protein containing only one carbohydratebinding domain (CRD) linked to an N-terminal sequence, part of which is cleaved during its maturation and secretion [5]. In humans, HIP/PAP protein is not expressed in normal liver but is overexpressed in 75% of HCC, in cholangiocarcinoma and in reactive ductular cells in nonmalignant liver [6]. HIP/PAP expression in HCC does not result from the re-expression of a fetal marker. Indeed, analysis of mouse embryos has revealed that HIP/PAP is not expressed in the liver during development [7]. HIP/PAP has also been detected in the pancreas and in a subset of cells (Paneth cells) in the intestine [8]. Moreover in rats, the HIP/PAP homologue (PAP 1/peptide 23/Reg 2), is expressed in pituitary and uterine cells under the influence of growth hormone releasing hormone and oestradiol, respectively [9,10], and by motor neurones in vivo during their regeneration and in vitro when incubated with ciliary neurotrophic factor-related cytokines [11,12].Little is known about the physiopathological significance of HIP/PAP expression. In the pancreas, there is evidence that HIP/PAP may participate in the antiapoptotic programme developed by acinar cells during acute pancreatitis [13]; indeed, HIP/PAP was reported to protect pancreatic AR4-2 J cells against apoptosis induced by oxidative stress [14]. In pituitary cells, PAP1/peptide 23 was reported to act as a growth...