Physiology · 1992 · 12 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesCell BiologyPhysiologyCell SignalingCytoskeletonSignal TransductionCalcium SignalingCytoskeletal RegulationIntracellular Calcium SignalingMechanotransductionMuscle PhysiologyProtein Kinase CascadesCa2+ SignalingCalcium Signaling In Muscle CellsCalcium-calmodulin SignalingMuscle ContractionMyosin RegulationSmooth Muscle ContractionSmooth Muscle MechanobiologyVascular Smooth Muscle Regulation
Contraction of smooth muscle requires phosphorylation of myosin. This is linked to intracellular Ca2+ transients by formation of the Ca2+-calmodulin complex and subsequent activation of myosin light chain kinase. Dephosphorylation is assumed to be unregulated. Other possible regulatory mechanisms include thin-filament-linked proteins caldesmon and calponin.