Somlyo, Andrew P., and Avril V. Somlyo. Ca2+ Sensitivity of Smooth Muscle and Nonmuscle
Myosin II: Modulated by G Proteins, Kinases, and Myosin Phosphatase. Physiol Rev 83 …

The detrusor smooth muscle is the main muscle component of the urinary bladder wall. Its
ability to contract over a large length interval and to relax determines the bladder function …

We here review mechanisms that can regulate the activity of myosin II, in smooth muscle and
non‐muscle cells, by modulating the Ca2+ sensitivity of myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) …

BACKGROUND Uterine contractile activity plays an important role in many and varied
reproductive functions including sperm and embryo transport, implantation, menstruation …

Hypercontraction or abnormal contraction of vascular smooth muscle is a major cause of
diseases such as hypertension and vasospasm of the coronary and cerebral arteries. A …

The potent vasodilator action of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (cGK) involves
decreasing the Ca 2+ sensitivity of contraction of smooth muscle via stimulation of myosin …

The small GTPase Rho is implicated in many cellular functions such as cell adhesion, cell
motility and migration, growth control, cell contraction, and cytokinesis. One of its main …

KCl has long been used as a convenient stimulus to bypass G protein-coupled receptors
(GPCR) and activate smooth muscle by a highly reproducible and relatively “simple” …

Clostridia produce the highest number of toxins of any type of bacteria and are involved in
severe diseases in humans and other animals. Most of the clostridial toxins are pore-forming …

Ca2+ sensitization of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) contraction involves Rho-dependent
and Rho-kinase–dependent suppression of myosin phosphatase activity. We previously …