In vitro studies of determinants of smooth muscle mechanics.
Smooth muscle contraction is dependent upon phosphorylation of the 20,000 Da light chain subunits of myosin. Whereas the kinetics of the hydrolysis of MgATP by smooth muscle myosin suggest a simple phosphorylation-dependent "on-off" mechanism, the contractile response in smooth muscle tissue is complex. Experiments to unravel this complexity have been performed in vitro using a combination of motility assays and kinetic techniques. Some insight into this complexity is obtained, but the mechanism and the regulation of smooth muscle contraction is still not completely known.
Sellers
J R
JR
Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Umemoto
S
S
Cuda
G
G
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D009218:Myosins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
D009218:Myosins