Myosin Light Chain Kinase Is Necessary for Tonic Airway Smooth Muscle Contraction

• DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.062836
• Publication Date: 2009-12-15T02:05:44Z
• Authors: Wen-Cheng Zhang; Ya-Jing Peng; Gen-Sheng Zhang; Wei-Qi He; Yan-Ning Qiao; Ying-Ying Dong; Yun-Qian Gao; Chen Chen; Cheng-Hai Zhang; Wen Li; Hua-Hao Shen; Wen Ning; Kristine E. Kamm; James T. Stull; Xiang Gao; Min-Sheng Zhu
• Keywords: Myosin-light-chain phosphatase; Tonic (physiology)

Different interacting signaling modules involving Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent myosin light chain kinase, Ca(2+)-independent regulatory phosphorylation, phosphatase inhibition, and actin filament-based proteins are proposed as specific cellular mechanisms involved in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction. However, relative importance is not well defined. By using tamoxifen-activated muscle-specific knock-out kinase mice, we analyzed its role tonic airway Knock-out both tracheal bronchial significantly reduced contraction phosphorylation responses to K(+)-depolarization acetylcholine. Kinase-deficient mice lacked constrictions normal asthmatic airways, whereas inflammation response was affected. These results indicate that acts a central participant contractile module muscle. Importantly, muscles necessary for physiological resistance.