Regulation of ion channels in smooth muscles by calcium.
Carl, A., H. K. Lee, and K. M. Sanders.
Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada
School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557, Tel. : (702) 784-6908, FAX :
(702) 784-6903, email: kent@physio.unr.edu
APStracts 2:0433C, 1995.
Excitation-contraction coupling consists of electro-mechanical
coupling (control of muscle contraction by membrane potential) and
pharmaco-mechanical coupling (control of muscle contraction
independent of membrane potential, but not necessarily independent of
intracellular Ca2- concentration, see Ref. 225). Ca2- ions play a
central role in both electro- and pharmaco-mechanical coupling in
smooth muscle tissues due to their ability to bind to calmodulin and
activate phosphorylation of myosin by myosin light chain kinase
(44,55,109,253). Regulation of the sensitivity of the contractile
apparatus to Ca2- also appears to be an important mechanism in
regulating the force of contractions of smooth muscles (112,118,179).
Received 17 November 1995; accepted in final form 27 November
1995.
APS Manuscript Number C717-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Cell Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 8 December 95