Force regulation, myosin light chain

Ca2+ entry, Ca2+-uptake into the SR by SERCA, Ca2+ extrusion from the cell and dephosphorylation of the myosin light chains. The t ype 1 phosphatase, myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) dephosphorylates myosin. As with MLCK its activity is physiologically regulated, e.g. its activity is decreased following phosphorylation via Rho associated kinase (Somlyo Somlyo 2000). In the uterus we have found a small but significant reduction of force, but not Ca2+ when Rho-associated kinase is inhibited (Kupittayanant et al 2001b). 

Fig. 4. The temporal sequence of events when a resting strip of tracheal smooth muscle is activated by carbacholamine addition at 10 min. There is a transient rise in [Ca2+]c (—) followed by a transient increase in the content (—) of phosphorylated myosin light chains (MLC-P) which lead in turn to the initiation of force development (—). Increased force is sustained even though the content of MLC-P declines. Preceding the sustained phase of force maintenance, there is an increase in the phosphorylation of desmin (D-P), synemin (S-P), caldesmon (CD-P) and a number of low molecular weight cytosolic proteins (X-P). These remain phosphorylated throughout the sustained phase of the response during which there is a sustained increase in Ca2+ cycling across the plasma membrane which regulates the activity of the membrane-associated protein kinase C.

Ikebe M, Brozovich FV (1996) Protein kinase C increases force and slows relaxation in smooth muscle evidence for regulation of the myosin light chain phosphatase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 225 370-376 Ikebe M, Reardon S (1989) Location of the inhibitory region of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase. J. Biol Chem 264 6967-6971 Ishizaki T, Maekawa M, Fujisawa K, Okawa K, Iwamatsu A, Fujita A, Watanabe N, Saito Y, Kakizuka A, Morri N, Narumiya S. (1996) The small GTP-binding protein Rho binds to and activates a 160 kDa Ser/Thr protein kinase homologous to myotonic dystrophy kinase. EMBO J 15 1885-1893... 

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