title: Rho-kinase-mediated Ca2+-independent contraction in rat embryo fibroblasts.
abstract: Thus far, determining the relative contribution of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and Ca2+-independent Rho-kinase pathways to myosin II activation and contraction has been difficult. In this study, we characterize the role of Rho-kinase in a rat embryo fibroblast cell line (REF-52), which contains no detectable MLCK. No endogenous MLCK could be detected in REF-52 cells by either Western or Northern blot analysis. In the presence or absence of Ca2+, thrombin or lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) increased RhoA activity and Rhokinase activity, correlating with isometric tension development and myosin II regulatory light chain (RLC) phosphorylation. Resting tension is associated with a basal phosphorylation of 0.31 +/- 0.02 mol PO4/mol RLC, whereas upon LPA or thrombin treatment myosin II RLC phosphorylation increases to 1.08 +/- 0.05 and 0.82 +/- 0.05 mol PO4/mol RLC, respectively, within 2.5 min. Ca2+ chelation has minimal effect on the kinetics and magnitude of isometric tension development and RLC phosphorylation. Treatment of REF-52 cells with the Rho-kinase-specific inhibitor Y-27632 abolished thrombin- and LPA-stimulated contraction and RLC phosphorylation. These results suggest that Rho-kinase is sufficient to activate myosin II motor activity and contraction in REF-52 cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Emmert
authors.forename: Judy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fee
authors.forename: Zoe M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Goeckeler
authors.forename: Jeremy M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Grojean
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakatsuki
authors.forename: Elliot L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Elson
authors.forename: B Paul
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Herring
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Wysolmerski
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008246:Lysophospholipids / Q000494:pharmacology; D018994:Myosin Light Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008246:Lysophospholipids; D018994:Myosin Light Chains; D011725:Pyridines; C108830:Y 27632; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase; D013917:Thrombin; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein; D002118:Calcium