scholarly journals Myosin light chain kinase and the role of myosin light chain phosphorylation in skeletal muscle

2011 ◽  
Vol 510 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
James T. Stull ◽  
Kristine E. Kamm ◽  
Rene Vandenboom
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Myosin Light Chain Kinase ◽  
Myosin Light Chain ◽  
Myosin Light Chain Phosphorylation

scholarly journals Smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase expression in cardiac and skeletal muscle

2000 ◽  
Vol 279 (5) ◽  
pp. C1656-C1664 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Paul Herring ◽  
Shelley Dixon ◽  
Patricia J. Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Myosin Light Chain Kinase ◽  
Myosin Light Chain ◽  
Cardiac Myocyte ◽  
Cardiac Tissue ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Myoblast Differentiation ◽  
Adult Skeletal Muscle

The purpose of this study was to characterize myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) expression in cardiac and skeletal muscle. The only classic MLCK detected in cardiac tissue, purified cardiac myocytes, and in a cardiac myocyte cell line (AT1) was identical to the 130-kDa smooth muscle MLCK (smMLCK). A complex pattern of MLCK expression was observed during differentiation of skeletal muscle in which the 220-kDa-long or “nonmuscle” form of MLCK is expressed in undifferentiated myoblasts. Subsequently, during myoblast differentiation, expression of the 220-kDa MLCK declines and expression of this form is replaced by the 130-kDa smMLCK and a skeletal muscle-specific isoform, skMLCK in adult skeletal muscle. These results demonstrate that the skMLCK is the only tissue-specific MLCK, being expressed in adult skeletal muscle but not in cardiac, smooth, or nonmuscle tissues. In contrast, the 130-kDa smMLCK is ubiquitous in all adult tissues, including skeletal and cardiac muscle, demonstrating that, although the 130-kDa smMLCK is expressed at highest levels in smooth muscle tissues, it is not a smooth muscle-specific protein.

scholarly journals Role of myosin light chain kinase in regulation of basal blood pressure and maintenance of salt-induced hypertension

2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (2) ◽  
pp. H584-H591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Qi He ◽  
Yan-Ning Qiao ◽  
Cheng-Hai Zhang ◽  
Ya-Jing Peng ◽  
Chen Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Myosin Light Chain Kinase ◽  
Myosin Light Chain ◽  
Vascular Tone ◽  
Induced Hypertension ◽  
Basal Blood Pressure ◽  
Muscle Myosin

Vascular tone, an important determinant of systemic vascular resistance and thus blood pressure, is affected by vascular smooth muscle (VSM) contraction. Key signaling pathways for VSM contraction converge on phosphorylation of the regulatory light chain (RLC) of smooth muscle myosin. This phosphorylation is mediated by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) but Ca2+-independent kinases may also contribute, particularly in sustained contractions. Signaling through MLCK has been indirectly implicated in maintenance of basal blood pressure, whereas signaling through RhoA has been implicated in salt-induced hypertension. In this report, we analyzed mice with smooth muscle-specific knockout of MLCK. Mesenteric artery segments isolated from smooth muscle-specific MLCK knockout mice (MLCKSMKO) had a significantly reduced contractile response to KCl and vasoconstrictors. The kinase knockout also markedly reduced RLC phosphorylation and developed force. We suggest that MLCK and its phosphorylation of RLC are required for tonic VSM contraction. MLCKSMKO mice exhibit significantly lower basal blood pressure and weaker responses to vasopressors. The elevated blood pressure in salt-induced hypertension is reduced below normotensive levels after MLCK attenuation. These results suggest that MLCK is necessary for both physiological and pathological blood pressure. MLCKSMKO mice may be a useful model of vascular failure and hypotension.

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