title: G-protein-mediated Ca2+ sensitization of smooth muscle contraction through myosin light chain phosphorylation.
abstract: The Ca2+ sensitivities of tonic (pulmonary and femoral artery) and phasic (portal vein and ileum) smooth muscles and the effects of guanosine 5'-O-(gamma-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) and norepinephrine on Ca2+ sensitivity of force development and myosin light chain (MLC20) phosphorylation were determined in permeabilized preparations that retained coupled receptors and endogenous calmodulin. The Ca2+ sensitivity of force was higher (approximately 3-fold) in the tonic than in the phasic smooth muscles. The nucleotide specificity of Ca2+ sensitization was: GTP gamma S much greater than GTP greater than ITP much greater than CTP = UTP. Baseline phosphorylation (7% at pCa greater than 8) and maximal phosphorylation (58% at pCa 5.0) were both lower in portal vein than in femoral artery (20 and 97%). Norepinephrine and GTP gamma S increased phosphorylation at constant [Ca2+] (pCa 7.0-6.5). MLC20 phosphorylation induced by norepinephrine was completely inhibited by guanosine 5'-O-(beta-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S). In portal vein at pCa 5, GTP gamma S increased phosphorylation from 58%, the maximal Ca2(+)-activated value, to 75%, and at pCa greater than 8, from 7 to 13%. In femoral artery at pCa 5, neither phosphorylation (97%) nor force was affected by GTP gamma S, while at pCa greater than 8, GTP gamma S caused an increase in force (16% of maximum) with a borderline increase in MLC20 phosphorylation (from 20 to 27%). MLC20 phosphorylation (up to 100%) was positively correlated with force. The major results support the hypothesis that the G-protein coupled Ca2(+)-sensitizing effect of agonists on force development is secondary to increased MLC20 phosphorylation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitazawa
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Gaylinn
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Denney
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Somlyo
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000494:pharmacology; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D009218:Myosins / Q000502:physiology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D009711:Nucleotides; D010656:Phenylephrine; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D009218:Myosins; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine