To examine the biological properties of protein kinase C (PKC)-delta and -epsilon NIH 3T3 cells were stably transfected with metallothionein-based expression vectors that overexpressed these isoforms. In addition to their inducibility by Zn2+, the protein levels of these two PKC subtypes, but not that of endogenous PKC-alpha, increased with increasing cell density. An unexpected role for Mg2+ in the subcellular localization of PKC-delta was found. This isoenzyme was predominantly membrane-associated when cell fractionation was carried out in the absence of Mg2+ but cytosolic when the fractionation was performed in the presence of 10 mM Mg2+. In contrast, the predominant localization of cytosolic PKC-alpha and of membrane-associated PKC-epsilon was not influenced by Mg2+. In vivo and in vitro studies of [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate binding in the overexpressing cell lines confirmed the cytosolic localization of PKC-alpha, the membrane-associated state of PKC-epsilon, and the presence of PKC-delta at both locations. Readdition of serum for 5 min to serum-starved, quiescent cell lines initiated the redistribution of PKC-alpha to the particulate fraction, while the location of PKC-delta and PKC-epsilon was not affected. Zn(2+)-induced overexpression of PKC-delta- and PKC-epsilon-stimulated sodium-dependent phosphate uptake. Overexpression of PKC-delta caused an increase in the Vmax of Na+/P(i) uptake, while overexpression of PKC-epsilon resulted in a decrease in Km for orthophosphate. A further stimulation of Na+/P(i) uptake in the overexpressing cells could be achieved by phorbol ester activation of endogenous PKC-alpha. These results suggest that each of the three PKC isotypes contribute to the regulation of sodium-dependent phosphate uptake, but through distinct mechanisms.