The findings described above illustrate how the src kinase can influence several new pathways of inositol phosphate metabolism, both at the membrane level with the production of novel D-3 phosphoinositides and the activation of PI-3 kinase, and at the cytosolic level by altering the expression of certain inositol polyphosphates, in particular Ins(1,4,5,6)P4. At present, it is difficult to speculate on the role these phenomena play in cellular transformation by src, since the functions of D-3 phosphoinositides and most inositol polyphosphates are unclear. There is evidence, however, that these new pathways of phosphoinositide metabolism occur in response to other types of cellular stimulations besides src transformation. Novel D-3 phosphoinositides are expressed in a variety of nonneoplastic cells, including human platelets treated with thrombin, smooth muscle cells and stimulated neutrophils. In addition, unusual InsP4 isomers such as D/L-Ins(1,4,5,6)P4 are found in chicken erythrocytes, murine macrophages, AR4-2J rat pancreatoma cells and adrenal glomerulosa cells, to name only a few. Recently, associations have been reported between PI-3 kinases and cytoskeletal elements in thrombin- stimulated platelets, and between activated ras proteins in rat liver epithelial cells. The latter discovery is particularly intriguing since GTP-binding proteins such as ras are known to influence cell shape and serve as downstream effector proteins in the signal transduction pathways of numerous growth factor receptors. Thus, one function of novel phosphoinositides and their metabolites may lie at the level of cytoskeletal and cell shape regulation. Clearly, additional roles for phosphoinositides exist in cells besides their traditional use as precursors for the generation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and diacylglycerol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)