title: Function of gastrointestinal smooth muscle: from signaling to contractile proteins.
abstract: The action of smooth muscle in the intestinal wall produces tonic contractions that maintain organ dimension against an imposed load such as a bolus of food, as well as forceful contractions that produce muscle shortening to propel the bolus along the gastrointestinal tract. These functions are regulated by intrinsic electrical and mechanical properties of smooth muscle. The complex signaling process that underlies these functions is discussed in this article. We propose a model that describes the facilitation of sustained contraction of smooth muscle cells in the gut.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Khalil N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Bitar
mesh_terms: D000205:Actomyosin / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism; D004068:Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000096985:Calponins
chemical_list: D000205:Actomyosin; D002118:Calcium; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D000096985:Calponins