Regulation of the Contractile Cycle in Smooth Muscle

by Takeshi Nakano, David J. Hartshorne

Overview

At the Mie International Symposium held in Japan in April 1994, leading scientists reviewed recent advances in the understanding of the contractile mechanism in smooth muscle. The present volume collects the papers presented at the symposium, summarizing the latest advances in smooth muscle function and emphasizing important components of the contraction-relaxation cycle. Topics include a discussion of the smooth muscle cell membrane, with emphasis on its ion channels; the regulation of cytosolic Ca2+ levels and the relationship to force in smooth muscle; aspects of the two key regulatory enzymes involved with myosin phosphorylation-dephosphorylation; the molecular basis for pharmacomechanical coupling in smooth muscle; developments in the basic contractile mechanisms involving the crossbridge cycle of tonic and phasic muscle; the role of myosin light chains; and many others. The approach is broad and presents contemporary opinions in pharmacology, physiology, and biochemistry as they relate to smooth muscle function. The book will appeal not only to those working in these disciplines, but to vascular clinicians, obstetric-gynecological physicians, and gastroenterologists as well.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9784431658825
Publisher:	Springer Japan
Publication date:	08/01/2012
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1995
Pages:	239
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.02(d)

About the Author

Nakano, Takeshi, MD, PhD (Mie Univ School of Medicine, Japan); Hartshorne, D. J., PhD (Univ of Arizona)

The contributors represent the specialties of internal medicine, molecular biology, physiology, and pharmacology. Many are from universities in Japan, with a few from the U.S., the U.K., and Brazil. Institutions prominently represented include Kyushu Univ, Mie Univ, Univ of Tokyo, and Univ of Arizona.

Table of Contents

Dynamics of Ion Channels Modified by Mobilized Calcium in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.- Dual Regulation of Smooth Muscle Contraction.- Cytosolic Calcium Concentration — Force Relation in Vascular Smooth Muscle.- Cross-Bridge Cycle in Phasic and Tonic Smooth Muscle.- Role of Protein Kinase C in the G Protein-Mediated Increase in Myofilament Ca2+ Sensitivity in Skinned Arterial Smooth Muscle of the Rabbit.- Regulation of Ca2+-Dependent Phosphorylation of 20-kDa Myosin Light Chain by the Small Molecular Weight G Protein rho p21 in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.- Molecular Dissection of Regulatory Light Chain Function in Vertebrate Smooth Muscle Myosins.- Autoinhibition of Myosin Light Chain Kinase.- Regulation of Myosin Light Chain Kinase Activity in Smooth Muscle.- Actin-Binding Property of Myosin Light Chain Kinase and Its Role in Regulating Actin-Myosin Interaction of Smooth Muscle.- Pharmacomechanical Coupling Through Regulation of Myosin Light Chain Phosphatase.- Smooth Muscle Myosin Phosphatase.- Structure and Expression of Vascular Smooth Muscle Calponin.- Modulation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Contraction by Calponin Phosphorylation.- Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation and Its Abnormality in Vascular Diseases.