The smooth muscle cell directly drives the contraction of the vascular wall and hence
regulates the size of the blood vessel lumen. We review here the current understanding of …

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 …

Ceulemans, Hugo, and Mathieu Bollen. Functional Diversity of Protein Phosphatase-1, a
Cellular Economizer and Reset Button. Physiol Rev 84: 1–39, 2004; 10.1152/physrev …

Vascular smooth muscle (VSM) plays an important role in the regulation of vascular function.
Identifying the mechanisms of VSM contraction has been a major research goal in order to …

Phosphorylation of myosin II plays an important role in many cell functions, including smooth
muscle contraction. The level of myosin II phosphorylation is determined by activities of …

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by progressive lung scarring, short
median survival, and limited therapeutic options, creating great need for new pharmacologic …

▪ Abstract Phosphorylation of Ser19 on the 20-kDa regulatory light chain of myosin II
(MLC20) by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK) is essential for …

Myosin phosphatase (MLCP) plays a critical regulatory role in the Ca2+ sensitivity of myosin
phosphorylation and smooth muscle contraction. It has been suggested that phosphorylation …

Protein phosphatase type 1 (PP1) 1 is involved in a wide range of cell activities (1), and
even within the more restricted theme of contractile activity in muscle several processes may …