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Review
. 2005 Dec;230(11):829-35.
doi: 10.1177/153537020523001107.

Molecular aspects of arterial smooth muscle contraction: focus on Rho

Rob H P Hilgers  1 , R Clinton Webb
Affiliations
Review

Molecular aspects of arterial smooth muscle contraction: focus on Rho

Rob H P Hilgers et al. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2005 Dec.

Abstract

The vascular smooth muscle cell is a highly specialized cell whose primary function is contraction and relaxation. It expresses a variety of contractile proteins, ion channels, and signalling molecules that regulate contraction. Upon contraction, vascular smooth muscle cells shorten, thereby decreasing the diameter of a blood vessel to regulate the blood flow and pressure. Contractile activity in vascular smooth muscle cells is initiated by a Ca(2+)-calmodulin interaction to stimulate phosphorylation of the light chain of myosin. Ca(2+)-sensitization of the contractile proteins is signaled by the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway to inhibit the dephosphorylation of the light chain by myosin phosphatase, thereby maintaining force. Removal of Ca(2+) from the cytosol and stimulation of myoson phosphatase initiate the relaxation of vascular smooth muscle.

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