Biomaterial Database

Regulation of contraction in cardiac and smooth muscles. 1986

M C Schaub, and B Kunz

Newer aspects of the contractile and regulatory proteins of cardiac and smooth muscles are described. Contraction in both tissues depends on Ca2+. In heart muscle, a fast, direct Ca2+-trigger system involving the troponin complex is operative on the actin filaments. Both the Ca2+-binding troponin-C and the phosphorylatable troponin-I display evolutionary diversification of properties characteristic of the heart muscle. Further modulation of heart-muscle contraction is governed by phosphorylation reactions, which are dependent on either Ca-calmodulin (CM) or cAMP. Both these regulatory pathways are operative in parallel. In smooth muscle, no fast Ca2+-trigger system is present. Smooth-muscle contraction is regulated by two systems, which operate indirectly and slowly via covalent protein modification. One involves phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light-chain, the other phosphorylation of caldesmon on the actin filaments. Both are dependent on the Ca2+-binding CM. The CM-dependent myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK) itself is, in smooth muscle only, subject to control by a cAMP-dependent phosphorylation system. Thus, drugs that cause an increase in cAMP in smooth muscle, unlike in heart muscle, may lead to relaxation without lowering cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009131	Muscle, Smooth, Vascular	The nonstriated involuntary muscle tissue of blood vessels.	Vascular Smooth Muscle,Muscle, Vascular Smooth,Muscles, Vascular Smooth,Smooth Muscle, Vascular,Smooth Muscles, Vascular,Vascular Smooth Muscles
D009200	Myocardial Contraction	Contractile activity of the MYOCARDIUM.	Heart Contractility,Inotropism, Cardiac,Cardiac Inotropism,Cardiac Inotropisms,Contractilities, Heart,Contractility, Heart,Contraction, Myocardial,Contractions, Myocardial,Heart Contractilities,Inotropisms, Cardiac,Myocardial Contractions
D009219	Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase	An enzyme that phosphorylates myosin light chains in the presence of ATP to yield myosin-light chain phosphate and ADP, and requires calcium and CALMODULIN. The 20-kDa light chain is phosphorylated more rapidly than any other acceptor, but light chains from other myosins and myosin itself can act as acceptors. The enzyme plays a central role in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction.	Myosin Kinase,Myosin LCK,Myosin Regulatory Light-Chain Kinase,Kinase, Myosin,Kinase, Myosin-Light-Chain,LCK, Myosin,Myosin Light Chain Kinase,Myosin Regulatory Light Chain Kinase
D010766	Phosphorylation	The introduction of a phosphoryl group into a compound through the formation of an ester bond between the compound and a phosphorus moiety.	Phosphorylations
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002147	Calmodulin	A heat-stable, low-molecular-weight activator protein found mainly in the brain and heart. The binding of calcium ions to this protein allows this protein to bind to cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases and to adenyl cyclase with subsequent activation. Thereby this protein modulates cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP levels.	Calcium-Dependent Activator Protein,Calcium-Dependent Regulator,Bovine Activator Protein,Cyclic AMP-Phosphodiesterase Activator,Phosphodiesterase Activating Factor,Phosphodiesterase Activator Protein,Phosphodiesterase Protein Activator,Regulator, Calcium-Dependent,AMP-Phosphodiesterase Activator, Cyclic,Activating Factor, Phosphodiesterase,Activator Protein, Bovine,Activator Protein, Calcium-Dependent,Activator Protein, Phosphodiesterase,Activator, Cyclic AMP-Phosphodiesterase,Activator, Phosphodiesterase Protein,Calcium Dependent Activator Protein,Calcium Dependent Regulator,Cyclic AMP Phosphodiesterase Activator,Factor, Phosphodiesterase Activating,Protein Activator, Phosphodiesterase,Protein, Bovine Activator,Protein, Calcium-Dependent Activator,Protein, Phosphodiesterase Activator,Regulator, Calcium Dependent
D002148	Calmodulin-Binding Proteins	Proteins which bind calmodulin. They are found in many tissues and have a variety of functions including F-actin cross-linking properties, inhibition of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and calcium and magnesium ATPases.	Caldesmon,Calspectin,CaM-BP(80),Caldesmon (77),Calmodulin Binding Proteins,Proteins, Calmodulin-Binding
D006321	Heart	The hollow, muscular organ that maintains the circulation of the blood.	Hearts
D000242	Cyclic AMP	An adenine nucleotide containing one phosphate group which is esterified to both the 3'- and 5'-positions of the sugar moiety. It is a second messenger and a key intracellular regulator, functioning as a mediator of activity for a number of hormones, including epinephrine, glucagon, and ACTH.	Adenosine Cyclic 3',5'-Monophosphate,Adenosine Cyclic 3,5 Monophosphate,Adenosine Cyclic Monophosphate,Adenosine Cyclic-3',5'-Monophosphate,Cyclic AMP, (R)-Isomer,Cyclic AMP, Disodium Salt,Cyclic AMP, Monoammonium Salt,Cyclic AMP, Monopotassium Salt,Cyclic AMP, Monosodium Salt,Cyclic AMP, Sodium Salt,3',5'-Monophosphate, Adenosine Cyclic,AMP, Cyclic,Adenosine Cyclic 3',5' Monophosphate,Cyclic 3',5'-Monophosphate, Adenosine,Cyclic Monophosphate, Adenosine,Cyclic-3',5'-Monophosphate, Adenosine,Monophosphate, Adenosine Cyclic