Isolated protein kinase C (PKC) was irreversibly inactivated by a brief (mm) incubation with calphoatin C in the prc~en~ of light, This inactivation required Ca"* either in a mdhmolar range in the absenc ,~ of lipid activators or in a submicrornolar range in the pre~nce of lipid activators. In addition, an oxygen atmosphere web required suggestmt~' the involvement of oxidation(s) in this inactivation process. Furthermore, laKC inactivation might involve a site-specific ox~dative modification of the enzyme at the CaZ*-mduced hydrophob~c region, lahysical queneher~ of singlet oxygen such as lycopene, fl.carotene, and =-tocopherol all reduced the calphostm C-induced inactivation of PKC. In intact cells treated with calphostm C, the iaaetivalion of laKC was rapid in the membrane fraction compar~:l to cytosol. Thin intrecellular PKC inactivation was also found to irreversibl~. Therefore, calphostin C can bring prolonged effects for several hours in cells treated for a short time. Taken together the~e rest,Its sugl3est that the calphostm C-mediated inactivation of PKC involves a site-specific and a "cage' type oxidative modification of lake.