title: Calcium-independent activation of the contractile apparatus in smooth muscle of mouse aorta by protein phosphatase inhibition.
abstract: Smooth muscle contraction is primarily regulated by reversible phosphorylation of the 20-kDa light chains of myosin (MLC(20)) involving Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PP). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the protein phosphatases (PP) type 1 (PP1) and type 2A (PP2A) inhibitor cantharidin (Cant), its structural analogue endothall (ETA) and microcystin LR (MC) on force of contraction and MLC(20)-phosphorylation in arterial smooth muscle of mouse aorta. Cant increased force of contraction and MLC(20)-phosphorylation in intact arterial rings of mouse aorta in the presence of Ca(2+) whereas ETA and MC were ineffective under the same experimental conditions. In contrast, all compounds induced contraction and led to enhanced MLC(20)-phosphorylation in nominally Ca(2+)-free solution in fibers of mouse aorta permeabilised (skinned) with Triton X-100. In addition, Western blot analysis revealed that skinning of mouse aorta did not result in a loss of PP1 and PP2A compared to intact rings. Thus, both PP must be tightly bound to structural proteins, e.g. myosin. The findings indicate a Ca(2+)-independent mechanism of smooth muscle contraction involving inhibition of PP1- and/or PP2A-activities leading to enhanced force and MLC(20)-phosphorylation of arterial smooth muscle.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Domagkstrasse 12, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aleth
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Balzer
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neumann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D002118:Calcium