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Calcium and the mechanism of contraction

In skeletal muscle, calcium binds to troponin and causes the repositioning of tropomyosin. As a result, the myosin-binding sites on the actin become uncovered and crossbridge cycling takes place. Although an increase in cytosolic calcium is also needed in smooth muscle, its role in the mechanism of contraction is very different. Three major steps are involved in smooth muscle contraction  [Pg.157]

Upon entering the smooth muscle cell, Ca++ ions bind with calmodulin, an intracellular protein with a chemical structure similar to that of troponin. The resulting Ca++-calmodulin complex binds to and activates myosin kinase. This activated enzyme then phosphorylates myosin. Crossbridge cycling in smooth muscle may take place only when myosin has been phosphorylated. [Pg.157]

Calcium ions are actively pumped back into the extracellular fluid as well as the sarcoplasmic reticulum. When the concentration of calcium falls below [Pg.157]

The dephosphorylation of myosin requires the activity of myosin phosphatase. Located in cytoplasm of the smooth muscle cell, this enzyme splits the phosphate group from the myosin. Dephosphorylated myosin is inactive crossbridge cycling no longer takes place and the muscle relaxes. [Pg.158]


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