平滑肌细胞迁移的肌球蛋白轻链非磷酸化途径

为了阐明平滑肌细胞迁移存在肌球蛋白轻链非磷酸化调节途径,研究花生四烯酸(arachidonicacid,AA)对肌球蛋白轻链非磷酸化状态下平滑肌细胞迁移的影响及其相关的信号传导途径.经Boyden小室跨膜迁移实验发现,AA对培养的兔血管平滑肌SM3细胞具有明显的诱导迁移作用.然而,当预先用10μmolL肌球蛋白轻链激酶(myosinlightchainkinase,MLCK)特异性抑制剂ML7作用SM3细胞后,发现AA对SM3细胞仍然具有明显的诱导迁移作用,并呈剂量依赖性,这种诱导作用可被细胞外信号调节激酶12(ERK12)的特异性抑制剂PD98059或磷脂酶C(PLC)的特异性抑制剂U73122所拮抗.此外,Ⅱ型肌球蛋白抑制剂blebbistatin(BLB)可部分抑制“非磷酸化”状态下AA的诱导迁移作用.经Western印迹检测显示,10μmolLML7可完全抑制SM3细胞中20kD肌球蛋白轻链(MLC20)磷酸化,并且加入AA后MLC20仍为非磷酸化状态.应用免疫荧光染色法观察肌动蛋白在SM3细胞中分布的变化,发现在AA作用下肌动蛋白呈细胞边缘聚集现象,有伪足形成,细胞形态表现为迁移状态.预先用ML7作用后再加入AA,肌动蛋白的分布与上述结果相同.研究结果初步表明,在平滑肌细胞迁移的作用途径中,在MLC磷酸化调节途径受到抑制时,AA可诱导MLC非磷酸化的平滑肌细胞发生迁移,其分子机理可能与ERK12和PLC信号传导途径有关,非磷酸化的肌球蛋白直接参与了该迁移过程.     

d-尼古丁对血管平滑肌细胞迁移的影响

为了在分子水平上揭示吸烟导致动脉粥样硬化的机制,探讨了烟草致病的主要成分d-尼古丁对豚鼠大脑基底动脉血管平滑肌细胞GbaSM-4迁移作用的影响。应用Boyden小室实验发现,d-尼古丁具有促进GbaSM-4细胞迁移的作用。免疫荧光染色显示,在d-尼古丁作用下有GbaSM-4细胞伪足内肌动蛋白表达和分布增加的现象。为了进一步阐明d-尼古丁促进平滑肌细胞迁移作用的分子机制,应用RT-PCR方法检测到在GbaSM-4细胞内有α7型烟碱乙酰胆碱受体的表达。应用烟碱乙酰胆碱受体的特异性抑制剂甲基牛扁碱和肌肉收缩的关键酶——肌球蛋白轻链激酶（myosin light chain kinase,MLCK）抑制剂ML-9作用GbaSM-4细胞后,发现d-尼古丁对GbaSM-4细胞的诱导迁移作用被明显的抑制。采用RNA干扰技术,成功地使GbaSM-4细胞内MLCK的表达水平下调,观察到d-尼古丁对GbaSM-4细胞的诱导迁移作用也被明显的抑制。上述研究结果表明,d-尼古丁以趋化因子的作用促进血管平滑肌细胞迁移,其分子机制可能与α7型烟碱乙酰胆碱受体和MLCK等因素有关,这一发现为揭示吸烟导致动脉粥样硬化提供了实验依据。     

平滑肌肌球蛋白轻链激酶及ATP结合位点突变体对ATP酶活性的调节作用

目的：探寻MLCK的非激酶活性区域对MLCK活性的影响,进一步阐明MLCK的非激酶活性在调节平滑肌收缩过程中的分子机制。方法：利用编码MLCK全长的pColdI表达载体对其ATP结合位点进行定点突变,获得无激酶活性的MLCK突变体;应用Glycerol—PAGE鉴定肌球蛋白磷酸化水平;应用孔雀绿方法检测重组MLCK对肌球蛋白ATP酶活性的影响。结果：MLCK／△ATP（突变型）失去磷酸化肌球蛋白轻链的激酶活性;重组MLCK（野生型）和MLCK／AATP（突变型）均可以在非钙条件下激活非磷酸化肌球蛋白Mg2＋-ATP酶活性,抑制磷酸化肌球蛋白的Mg2＋．ATP酶活性,而且激活与抑制作用均随着MLCK浓度的增加而增大,但二者对肌球蛋白的ATP酶活性的作用没有显著差异（P〉0．05）。结论：平滑肌肌球蛋白轻链激酶及ATP结合位点突变体具有激活非磷酸化肌球蛋白ATP酶活性的作用。     

肌球蛋白轻链激酶非激酶活性调节磷酸化肌球蛋白ATP酶活性及肌丝运动

肌球蛋白轻链激酶(myosin light chain kinase,MLCK)具有激酶和非激酶活性,在平滑肌收缩过程中起着关键酶调控的作用.为进一步阐明MLCK非激酶活性在平滑肌收缩过程中的调节作用,利用已删除部分激酶区域的MLCK重组体(pGEXF6.5)在大肠杆菌中进行表达,采用亲和层析技术纯化表达的MLCK片段,应用EnzChek磷分析试剂盒检测MLCK片段对磷酸化肌球蛋白、水解重酶解肌球蛋白(heavymeromyosin,HMM)及肌球蛋白亚片段1(subfragmentl,S1)ATP酶活性的影响,体外检测MLCK片段对肌动蛋白肌丝运动的调节.研究结果显示,pGEX-F6.5重组表达载体在大肠杆菌中以可溶性GST融合蛋白的形式表达.该融合蛋白经Glutathione-Sepharose4B纯化、SDS-PAGE鉴定得到较纯的单一表达条带.纯化的MLCK片段对磷酸化肌球蛋白、HMM和S1的ATP酶活性均有明显激活作用.MLCK片段激活磷酸化肌球蛋白ATP酶活性为:Vmax=(19.426±1.669)倍;Km=(0.486±0.106)μmol/L,MLCK片段对磷酸化HMM和S1的ATP酶活性也有相似的刺激作用.体外肌丝运动研究表明,随着MLCK片段浓度的增加,磷酸化肌球蛋白与肌动蛋白结合的数量不断增加,肌丝运动的速度也随之增加.上述结果表明,MLCK的C端非激酶活性具有调节磷酸化的肌球蛋白ATP酶活性及肌丝运动的作用.     

RhoA-ROK通路在平滑肌收缩中的作用

近年来有关平滑肌收缩的钙敏化机制研究进展迅速,一系列的证据显示这种Ca2 非依赖的调节主要是由RhoA-ROK通路介导,它主要通过磷酸化抑制肌球蛋白轻链磷酸酶(MLCP)的活性来增加肌球蛋白轻链(MLC)的磷酸化水平,从而增强平滑肌的收缩力。越来越多的研究显示RhoA-ROK通路参与了平滑肌细胞和非肌细胞的多种功能,在许多疾病如高血压、动脉粥样硬化、冠状动脉痉挛等的发生和发展中起着非常重要的作用。     

肌球蛋白轻链激酶活性片段对肌球蛋白轻链的非钙依赖性磷酸化作用特征

肌球蛋白轻链激酶 (MLCK)的活性片段 (MLCKF)能比完整的MLCK更有效地、以非钙依赖性的方式磷酸化肌球蛋白轻链 (MLC2 0 )。该片段是用胰蛋白酶水解MLCK ,再经DEAE 5 2柱层析分离而获得的 ,分子量约为 6 1kD。Western印迹已证实该MLCKF与完整的MLCK同源。MLCKF对肌球蛋白轻链的磷酸化作用及其作用特征通过甘油电泳及ScoinImage扫描软件检测 ,肌球蛋白ATP酶活性通过分光光度法检测。实验结果证实 ,MLCKF催化的MLC2 0 非钙依赖性磷酸化 (CIPM)比MLCK催化的CIPM效力高、耗能多 ,但比MLCK催化的MLC2 0 钙依赖性磷酸化 (CDPM)效力低、耗能少 ;MLCKF催化的CIPM与MLCK催化的CIPM均较MLCK催化的CDPM稳定 ,不易受温育温度、温育时间及离子浓度等变化的影响 ,且对MLCK抑制剂ML 9敏感性低。     

花生四烯酸诱导肌球蛋白磷酸化被抑制的平滑肌细胞 迁移的信号传导途径

在应用肌球蛋白轻链激酶特异抑制剂ML-7抑制了肌球蛋白轻链磷酸化后,花生四烯酸(arachidonic acid,AA)仍可诱导兔血管平滑肌细胞（SM3）发生迁移.为了进一步阐明其信号传导途径,应用多种信号抑制剂,采用免疫印迹、Boyden小室和提取细胞膜蛋白等实验方法,对上述迁移作用的信号传导途径进行了深入的研究.结果显示,PTX（Gi蛋白抑制剂）、U73122（PLC抑制剂）、staurosporine (PKC抑制剂)、PD98059（ERK1/2抑制剂）和SB203580（p38抑制剂）分别可拮抗上述AA诱导的SM3细胞迁移作用,而SP600125（JNK抑制剂）的作用较弱.免疫印迹结果显示,AA可提高SM3细胞中PKC(ε)、ERK1/2、p38和JNK信号的磷酸化水平,呈时间依赖性, PTX或U73122可抑制上述作用;staurosporine可抑制由AA 引起的ERK1/2和JNK的磷酸化水平增强,但对p38的磷酸化水平无影响.还发现AA可促进PLCβ2的细胞膜移位, PTX可抑制其作用.上述结果表明,当肌球蛋白轻链的磷酸化被抑制后, AA可通过Gi蛋白的活化促进PLCβ2向细胞膜移位,进而通过激活PKC(ε)、ERK1/2、p38和JNK等信号转导途径而诱导SM3细胞发生迁移     

平滑肌肌球蛋白轻链激酶的非激酶作用及对ATP 酶活性的调节

肌球蛋白轻链激酶（myosin light chain kinase, MLCK）具有激酶活性和非激酶活性,在平滑肌收缩过程中起着关键酶调控的作用.为探寻MLCK的非激酶活性区域对MLCK活性的影响,以进一步阐明MLCK的非激酶活性在调节平滑肌收缩过程中的分子机制.采用PCR技术构建MLCK部分氨基酸缺失的重组表达载体pGEX-F6-5/D,经大肠杆菌表达得到可溶性GST融合蛋白,利用SDS-PAGE及Western 印迹鉴定表达的MLCK在细胞中的分布,结果还显示,提取液的上清和沉淀中均有MLCK片段的表达.运用亲和层析技术分离并纯化删除前、后表达的MLCK片段（F6.5和F6-5/D）,经谷胱甘肽琼脂糖凝胶 4B 纯化,SDS-PAGE鉴定显示为单一表达条带.应用EnzChek磷分析试剂盒和孔雀绿两种方法分别测定不同浓度的MLCK对非磷酸化肌球蛋白Mg²⁺-ATP酶活性的影响.两种MLCK的片段均具有激活ATP酶活性的作用,并随MLCK浓度的增加,酶的活性增加.比较删除前后不同MLCK片段对ATP酶活性的影响结果显示,删除MLCK片段1002位丙氨酸至1019位亮氨酸后,对ATP酶的激活作用较删除前明显降低,表明删除的部分氨基酸序列为MLCK非激酶活性所必需的区域.利用电镜技术观察到MLCK片段（F6.5）使非磷酸化肌球蛋白构象发生明显的变化.加入MLCK片段后肌球蛋白的构象由非活性型转化为活性型,并且MLCK片段还具有促进肌球蛋白单体形成肌丝的作用.     

平滑肌肌球蛋白磷酸化与肌动球蛋白功能调节

在有Ｃａ２＋和钙调蛋白存在时,肌球蛋白轻链激酶催化肌球蛋白磷酸化,促使肌动蛋白激活的肌球蛋白（肌动球蛋白）Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶活性显著增加．然而,肌球蛋白磷酸化水平与Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶之间的关系是非线性的,原肌球蛋白可以进一步增加Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶的活性,但仍不改变它们之间的非线性关系．肌球蛋白轻链激酶的合成肽抑制剂抑制了肌球蛋白磷酸化和Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶活性,并导致平滑肌去膜肌纤维的等长收缩张力与速度的降低．结果提示肌球蛋白轻链激酶参与脊椎动物平滑肌收缩的调节过程,肌球蛋白轻链磷酸化作用会引起平滑肌收缩     

肌球蛋白轻链激酶CaM结合位点突变体对肌球蛋白ATP酶活性的影响

目的:探讨肌球蛋白轻链激酶(MLCK)钙调蛋白(CaM)结合位点突变体对肌球蛋白ATP酶活性的影响.方法:构建牛胃重组全长野生型MLCK CaM结合位点突变型蛋白(△CaM/MLCK);孔雀绿方法检测△CaM/MLCK对肌球蛋白的Mg2+-ATP酶活性的影响.结果:在无Ca2+/CaM存在时,随着△△CaM/MLCK浓度的增加,非磷酸化肌球蛋白的Mg2+-ATP酶活性明显增加;而磷酸化肌球蛋白的Mg2+-ATP酶活性明显降低.结论:△CaM/MLCK对肌球蛋白Mg2+-ATP酶活性的影响表明MLCK具有非激酶活性.     

Myosin phosphorylation triggers actin polymerization in vascular smooth muscle

A variety of contractile stimuli increases actin polymerization, which is essential for smooth muscle contraction. However, the mechanism(s) of actin polymerization associated with smooth muscle contraction is not fully understood. We tested the hypothesis that phosphorylated myosin triggers actin polymerization. The present study was conducted in isolated intact or beta-escin-permeabilized rat small mesenteric arteries. Reductions in the 20-kDa myosin regulatory light chain (MLC20) phosphorylation were achieved by inhibiting MLC kinase with ML-7. Increases in MLC20 phosphorylation were achieved by inhibiting myosin light chain phosphatase with microcystin. Isometric force, the degree of actin polymerization as indicated by the F-actin-to-G-actin ratio, and MLC20 phosphorylation were determined. Reductions in MLC20 phosphorylation were associated with a decreased force development and actin polymerization. Increased MLC20 phosphorylation was associated with an increased force generation and actin polymerization. We also found that a heptapeptide that mimics the actin-binding motif of myosin II enhanced microcystin-induced force generation and actin polymerization without affecting MLC20 phosphorylation in beta-escin-permeabilized vessels. Collectively, our data demonstrate that MLC20 phosphorylation is capable of triggering actin polymerization. We further suggest that the binding of myosin to actin triggers actin polymerization and enhances the force development in arterial smooth muscle.     

Regulation of embryonic smooth muscle myosin by protein kinase C

Phosphorylation of the 20-kDa light chain regulates adult smooth muscle myosin; phosphorylation by the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent enzyme myosin light chain kinase stimulates the actomyosin ATPase activity of adult smooth muscle myosin; the simultaneous phosphorylation of a separate site on the 20-kDa light chain by the Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme protein kinase C attenuates the myosin light chain kinase-induced increase in the actomyosin ATPase activity of adult myosin. Fetal smooth muscle myosin, purified from 12-day-old fertilized chicken eggs, is structurally different from adult smooth muscle myosin. Nevertheless, phosphorylation of a single site on the 20-kDa light chain of fetal myosin by myosin light chain kinase results in stimulation of the actomyosin ATPase activity of this myosin. Protein kinase C, in contrast, phosphorylates three sites on the fetal myosin 20-kDa light chain including a serine or threonine residue on the same peptide phosphorylated by myosin light chain kinase. Interestingly, phosphorylation by protein kinase C stimulates the actomyosin ATPase activity of fetal myosin. Moreover, unlike adult myosin, there is no attenuation of the actomyosin ATPase activity when fetal myosin is simultaneously phosphorylated by myosin light chain kinase and protein kinase C. These data demonstrate, for the first time, the in vitro activation of a smooth muscle myosin by another enzyme besides myosin light chain kinase and raise the possibility of alternate pathways for regulating smooth muscle myosin in vivo.     

Role of myosin II activity and the regulation of myosin light chain phosphorylation in astrocytomas

The generation of contractile force mediated by actin-myosin interactions is essential for cell motility. Myosin activity is promoted by phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC). MLC phosphorylation in large part is controlled by kinases that are effectors of Rho family GTPases. Accordingly, in this study we examined the effects of ROCK and Rac1 inhibition on MLC phosphorylation in astrocytoma cells. We found that low concentrations of the ROCK inhibitor Y27632 increased the phosphorylation state of the Triton X-100 soluble fraction of MLC, whereas higher concentrations of Y27632 decreased soluble phospho-MLC. These effects of Y27632 were dependent on Rac1. The soluble form of phospho-MLC comprises about 10% of total phospho-MLC in control cells. Interestingly, ROCK inhibition led to a decrease in the phosphorylation state of total MLC, whereas Rac1 inhibition had little effect. Thus, the soluble form of MLC is differentially regulated by ROCK and Rac1 compared with MLC examined in a total cell extract. We also observed that astrocytoma migration is stimulated by low concentrations of the myosin II inhibitor blebbistatin. However, higher concentrations of blebbistatin inhibit migration leading us to believe that migration has a biphasic dependence on myosin II activity. Taken together, our data show that modulation of myosin II activity is important in determining optimal astrocytoma migration. In addition, these findings suggest that there are at least two populations of MLC that are differentially regulated.     

Blebbistatin inhibits the chemotaxis of vascular smooth muscle cells by disrupting the myosin II-actin interaction

Blebbistatin is a myosin II-specific inhibitor. However, the mechanism and tissue specificity of the drug are not well understood. Blebbistatin blocked the chemotaxis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) toward sphingosylphosphorylcholine (IC(50) = 26.1 +/- 0.2 and 27.5 +/- 0.5 microM for GbaSM-4 and A7r5 cells, respectively) and platelet-derived growth factor BB (IC(50) = 32.3 +/- 0.9 and 31.6 +/- 1.3 muM for GbaSM-4 and A7r5 cells, respectively) at similar concentrations. Immunofluorescence and fluorescent resonance energy transfer analysis indicated a blebbistatin-induced disruption of the actin-myosin interaction in VSMCs. Subsequent experiments indicated that blebbistatin inhibited the Mg(2+)-ATPase activity of the unphosphorylated (IC(50) = 12.6 +/- 1.6 and 4.3 +/- 0.5 microM for gizzard and bovine stomach, respectively) and phosphorylated (IC(50) = 15.0 +/- 0.6 microM for gizzard) forms of purified smooth muscle myosin II, suggesting a direct effect on myosin II motor activity. It was further observed that the Mg(2+)-ATPase activities of gizzard myosin II fragments, heavy meromyosin (IC(50) = 14.4 +/- 1.6 microM) and subfragment 1 (IC(50) = 5.5 +/- 0.4 microM), were also inhibited by blebbistatin. Assay by in vitro motility indicated that the inhibitory effect of blebbistatin was reversible. Electron-microscopic evaluation showed that blebbistatin induced a distinct conformational change (i.e., swelling) of the myosin II head. The results suggest that the site of blebbistatin action is within the S1 portion of smooth muscle myosin II.     

Formation and properties of smooth muscle myosin 20-kDa light chain-skeletal muscle myosin hybrids and photocrosslinking from the maleimidylbenzophenone-labeled light chain to the heavy chain.

Experimental conditions which permit the exchange of smooth muscle 20-kDa light chain into skeletal muscle myosin are described. The hybridization does not result in the regulation of actin-activated ATPase activity of the hybrid myosin by smooth light chain phosphorylation. Further, the KCl dependence of the Mg-ATPase activity of the hybrid was similar to that of skeletal muscle myosin. The dephosphorylation of the smooth light chain in the hybrid did not induce a conformational change in the hybrid from the 6 S to the 10 S state, thereby indicating that the conformational transition is dependent also on the nature of the heavy chain subunit. Exchange of the smooth light chain premodified at its Cys-108 by photolabile 4-(N-maleimido)benzophenone and photolysis resulted in crosslinking to the heavy chain subunit. Immunopeptide mapping using a monoclonal antibody against residues 1-23 at the N-terminus of the skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain identified the location of the photocrosslinking site to be beyond 92 kDa away from the N-terminus.     

The phosphorylation of myosin II at the Ser1 and Ser2 is critical for normal platelet-derived growth factor induced reorganization of myosin filaments

Phosphorylation of the regulatory light chain of myosin II (MLC(20)) at the activation sites promotes both the motor activity and the filament formation of myosin II, thus playing an important role in various cell motile processes. In contrast, the physiological function of phosphorylation of MLC(20) at the inhibitory sites is unknown. Here we report for the first time the function of the inhibitory site phosphorylation in the cells. We successfully produced the antibodies specifically recognizing the phosphorylation sites of MLC(20) at Ser1, and the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced change in the phosphorylation at the Ser1 was monitored. The phosphorylation of MLC(20) at the Ser1 significantly increased during the PDGF-induced actin cytoskeletal reorganization. PDGF disassembled the stress fibers, and this was attenuated with the expression of unphosphorylatable MLC(20) at the Ser1/Ser2 phosphorylation sites. The present results suggest that the down-regulation of myosin II activity achieved by the phosphorylation at the Ser1/Ser2 sites plays an important role in the normal reorganization of actomyosin filaments triggered by PDGF receptor stimulation.     

Stable transfectants of smooth muscle cell line lacking the expression of myosin light chain kinase and their characterization with respect to the actomyosin system

We constructed a plasmid vector having a 1.4-kilobase pair insert of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) cDNA in an antisense direction to express antisense mRNA. The construct was then transfected to SM3, a cell line from vascular smooth muscle cells, producing a few stable transfectants. The down-regulation of MLCK expression in the transfectants was confirmed by both Northern and Western blots. The control SM3 showed chemotaxic motility to platelet-derived growth factor-BB, which was supported by lamellipodia. However, the transfectants showed neither chemotaxic motility nor developed lamellipodia, indicating the essential role of MLCK in the motility. The specificity for the targeting was assessed by a few tests including the rescue experiment. Despite this importance of MLCK, platelet-derived growth factor-BB failed to induce MLC20 phosphorylation in not only the transfectants but also in SM3. The mode in which MLCK was involved in the development of membrane ruffling is discussed with special reference to the novel property of MLCK that stimulates the ATPase activity of smooth muscle myosin without phosphorylating its light chain (Ye, L.-H., Kishi, H., Nakamura, A., Okagaki, T., Tanaka, T., Oiwa, K., and Kohama, K. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 96, 6666-6671).