In interphase HeLa cells, incubation with histamine or thapsigargin led to the rapid release of arachidonic acid. The release was absolutely dependent on Ca2+, consistent with the activation of an 85 kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). In metaphase-arrested HeLa cells, by contrast, the stimulation of arachidonate release by these agents was inhibited by more than 90%. The lack of arachidonic acid release by mitotic cells was at least partly expected, since histamine- or thapsigargin-induced Ca2+ influx and elevations of cytosolic free Ca2+ are known to be strongly inhibited during mitosis [Preston, Sha'afi and Berlin (1991) Cell Regul. 2, 915-925]. Indeed, incubation of interphase cells with the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 alone induced a high level of arachidonate release. However, even A23187 failed to elicit release from mitotic cells. Since the Ca(2+)-dependent release of arachidonate by many cell types is promoted by preincubation with ligands that activate receptors of the tyrosine kinase class, and tumour promoters that lead to the phosphorylation of cPLA2, we determined if the responses of mitotic HeLa cells could be modified by this 'priming' process. We first established that epidermal growth factor and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate were effective priming agents in interphase cells: cells preincubated with the hormone or tumour promoter showed a 2-fold stimulation of thapsigargin- or A23187-induced arachidonic acid release. However, none of the priming agents reversed the lack of mitotic cell response. This refractoriness was not caused by destruction of cPLA2 during mitosis: by Western blotting, cPLA2 of interphase and mitotic cells was shown to be present in comparable amounts. Moreover, cPLA2 activities measured in extracts of interphase and mitotic cells were also comparable. Surprisingly, mitotic cPLA2 appeared to be constitutively phosphorylated in non-hormone-treated (control) cells. The results indicate a novel mechanism of regulation by cPLA2 activity in mitotic cells.