Protein kinase network in the regulation of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of smooth muscle myosin light chain

The contraction of smooth muscle is regulated primarily by intracellular Ca²⁺ signal. It is well established that the elevation of the cytosolic Ca²⁺ level activates myosin light chain kinase, which phosphorylates 20 kDa regulatory myosin light chain and activates myosin ATPase. The simultaneous measurement of cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration and force development revealed that the alteration of the Ca²⁺-sensitivity of the contractile apparatus as well as the Ca²⁺ signal plays a critical role in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction. The fluctuation of an extent of myosin phosphorylation for a given change in Ca²⁺ concentration is considered to contribute to the major mechanisms regulating the Ca²⁺-sensitivity. The level of myosin phosphorylation is determined by the balance between phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. The phosphorylation level for a given Ca²⁺ elevation is increased either by Ca²⁺-independent activation of phosphorylation process or inhibition of dephosphorylation. In the last decade, the isolation and cloning of myosin phosphatase facilitated the understanding of regulatory mechanism of dephosphorylation process at the molecular level. The inhibition of myosin phosphatase can be achieved by (1) alteration of hetrotrimeric structure, (2) phosphorylation of 110 kDa regulatory subunit MYPT1 at the specific site and (3) inhibitory protein CPI-17 upon its phosphorylation. Rho-kinase was first identified to phosphorylate MYPT1, and later many kinases were found to phosphorylate MYPT1 and inhibit dephosphorylation of myosin. Similarly, the phosphorylation of CPI-17 can be catalysed by multiple kinases. Moreover, the myosin light chain can be phosphorylated by not only authentic myosin light chain kinase in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner but also by multiple kinases in a Ca²⁺-independent manner, thus adding a novel mechanism to the regulation of the Ca²⁺-sensitivity by regulating the phosphorylation process. It is now clarified that the protein kinase network is involved in the regulation of myosin phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. However, the physiological role of each component remains to be determined. One approach to accomplish this purpose is to investigate the effects of the dominant negative mutants of the signalling molecule on the smooth muscle contraction. In this regards, a protein transduction technique utilizing the cell-penetrating peptides would provide a useful tool. In the preliminary study, we succeeded in introducing a fragment of MYPT1 into the arterial strips, and found enhancement of contraction.     

PHI-1 induced enhancement of myosin phosphorylation in chicken smooth muscle

Herein, we provide evidence that in chicken smooth muscle, G-protein stimulation by a Rho-kinase pathway leads to an increase in myosin light chain phosphorylation. Additionally, G-protein stimulation did not increase MYPT1 phosphorylation at Thr695 or Thr850, and CPI-17, was not expressed in chicken smooth muscle. However, PHI-1 was present in chicken smooth muscle tissues. Both agonist and GTP(gamma)S stimulation result in an increase in PHI-1 phosphorylation, which is inhibited by inhibitors to both Rho-kinase (Y-27632) and (PKC) GF109203x. These data suggest that PHI-1 may act as a CPI-17 analog in chicken smooth muscle and inhibit myosin phosphatase activity during G-protein stimulation to produce Ca2+ sensitization.     

Intracellular Ca2+ Inhibits Smooth Muscle L-Type Ca2+ Channels by Activation of Protein Phosphatase Type 2B and by Direct Interaction with the Channel

Modulation of L-type Ca²⁺ channels by tonic elevation of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ was investigated in intact cells and inside-out patches from human umbilical vein smooth muscle. Ba²⁺ was used as charge carrier, and run down of Ca²⁺ channel activity in inside-out patches was prevented with calpastatin plus ATP. Increasing cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ in intact cells by elevation of extracellular Ca²⁺ in the presence of the ionophore A23187 inhibited the activity of L-type Ca²⁺ channels in cell-attached patches. Measurement of the actual level of intracellular free Ca²⁺ with fura-2 revealed a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 260 nM and a Hill coefficient close to 4 for Ca²⁺- dependent inhibition. Ca²⁺-induced inhibition of Ca²⁺ channel activity in intact cells was due to a reduction of channel open probability and availability. Ca²⁺-induced inhibition was not affected by the protein kinase inhibitor H-7 (10 μM) or the cytoskeleton disruptive agent cytochalasin B (20 μM), but prevented by cyclosporin A (1 μg/ ml), an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2B (calcineurin). Elevation of Ca²⁺ at the cytoplasmic side of inside-out patches inhibited Ca²⁺ channels with an IC₅₀ of 2 μM and a Hill coefficient close to unity. Direct Ca²⁺-dependent inhibition in cell-free patches was due to a reduction of open probability, whereas availability was barely affected. Application of purified protein phosphatase 2B (12 U/ml) to the cytoplasmic side of inside-out patches at a free Ca²⁺ concentration of 1 μM inhibited Ca²⁺ channel open probability and availability. Elevation of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ in the presence of PP2B, suppressed channel activity in inside-out patches with an IC₅₀ of ∼380 nM and a Hill coefficient of ∼3; i.e., characteristics reminiscent of the Ca²⁺ sensitivity of Ca²⁺ channels in intact cells. Our results suggest that L-type Ca²⁺ channels of smooth muscle are controlled by two Ca²⁺-dependent negative feedback mechanisms. These mechanisms are based on (a) a protein phosphatase 2B-mediated dephosphorylation process, and (b) the interaction of intracellular Ca²⁺ with a single membrane-associated site that may reside on the channel protein itself.     

K252a-sensitive protein kinases but not okadaic acid-sensitive protein phosphatases regulate methyl jasmonate-induced cytosolic Ca2+ oscillation in guard cells of Arabidopsis thaliana

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) induces stomatal closure similar to abscisic acid (ABA), and MeJA signaling in guard cells shares some signal components with ABA signaling. As part of this process, MeJA as well as ABA induce the elevation and oscillation of cytosolic free-calcium concentrations ([Ca²⁺]_cyt) in guard cells. While abscisic acid-induced [Ca²⁺]_cyt oscillation has been extensively studied, MeJA-induced [Ca²⁺]_cyt oscillation is less well understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of K252a (a broad-range protein kinase inhibitor) and okadaic acid (OA, a protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitor) on MeJA-induced [Ca²⁺]_cyt oscillation in guard cells of Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Columbia expressing the Ca²⁺ reporter yellow cameleon 3.6. The protein kinase inhibitor K252a abolished MeJA-induced stomatal closure and reduced MeJA-elicited [Ca²⁺]_cyt oscillation. The protein phosphatase inhibitor OA, on the other hand, did not inhibit these processes. These results suggest that MeJA signaling involves activation of K252a-sensitive protein kinases upstream of [Ca²⁺]_cyt oscillation but not activation of an OA-sensitive protein phosphatase in guard cells of A. thaliana ecotype Columbia.     

A functional interaction between CPI-17 and RACK1 proteins in bronchial smooth muscle cells

CPI-17 is a phosphorylation-dependent inhibitor of smooth muscle myosin light chain. Using yeast two-hybrid system, we have identified the receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) as a novel interaction partner of CPI-17. The direct interaction and co-localization of CPI-17 with RACK1 were confirmed by immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy analysis, respectively. An in vitro assay system using recombinant/purified proteins revealed that the PKC-mediated phosphorylation of CPI-17 was augmented in the presence of RACK1. These results suggest that RACK1 may play a role in PKC/CPI-17 signaling pathway.     

Regulation of phosphorylation at Ser of GluN2B receptor in the postsynaptic density

Neuronal N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptor (NMDAR) that plays essential roles in excitatory synaptic transmission is regulated by phosphorylation. However, the kinases and phosphatases involved in this regulation are not completely known. We show that the GluN2B subunit of NMDAR is phosphorylated at Ser¹³⁰³ by protein kinase C (PKC) and is dephosphorylated by protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), but not protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in isolated postsynaptic density (PSD). Although PSD is known to harbor PKC, PP1 and PP2A, their ability to regulate phosphorylation of GluN2B-Ser¹³⁰³ would depend on the accessibility of GluN2B-Ser¹³⁰³ to these proteins. Since PSD preparation is likely to maintain the organization of its component proteins as inside neurons, accessibility of kinases and phosphatases to GluN2B-Ser¹³⁰³in vivo would be addressed by experiments using this system. Using an antibody specific for the phosphorylated state of GluN2B-Ser¹³⁰³ we demonstrate that PP1 is the major phosphatase in rat brain PSD that can dephosphorylate the GluN2B-Ser¹³⁰³ endogenous to PSD. We also show that PKC present in PSD can phosphorylate GluN2B-Ser¹³⁰³. The events reported here might be important in regulating GluN2B-Ser¹³⁰³ phosphorylation in vivo.     

Theoretical model of the interactions between Ca2+, calmodulin and myosin light chain kinase

Active Ca²⁺/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) plays an important role in the process of MLC phosphorylation and consecutive smooth muscle contraction. Here, we propose a mathematical model of a detailed kinetic scheme describing interactions among Ca²⁺, CaM and MLCK and taking into account eight different aggregates. The main model result is the prediction of the Ca²⁺ dependent active form of MLCK, which is in the model taken as proportional to the concentration of Ca₄CaM · MLCK complex. Wegscheider’s condition is additionally applied as a constraint enabling the prediction of some parameter values that have not yet been obtained by experiments.     

Expression of CPI-17 in smooth muscle during embryonic development and in neointimal lesion formation

Ca²⁺ sensitivity of smooth muscle (SM) contraction is determined by CPI-17, an inhibitor protein for myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP). CPI-17 is highly expressed in mature SM cells, but the expression level varies under pathological conditions. Here, we determined the expression of CPI-17 in embryonic SM tissues and arterial neointimal lesions using immunohistochemistry. As seen in adult animals, the predominant expression of CPI-17 was detected at SM tissues on mouse embryonic sections, whereas MLCP was ubiquitously expressed. Compared with SM α-actin, CPI-17 expression doubled in arterial SM from embryonic day E10 to E14. Like SM α-actin and other SM marker proteins, CPI-17 was expressed in embryonic heart, and the expression was down-regulated at E17. In adult rat, CPI-17 expression level was reduced to 30% in the neointima of injured rat aorta, compared with the SM layers, whereas the expression of MLCP was unchanged in both regions. Unlike other SM proteins, CPI-17 was detected at non-SM organs in the mouse embryo, such as embryonic neurons and epithelium. Thus, CPI-17 expression is reversibly controlled in response to the phenotype transition of SM cells that restricts the signal to differentiated SM cells and particular cell types. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Rice small C2-domain proteins are phosphorylated by calcium-dependent protein kinase

We previously reported that OsERG1 and OsERG3 encode rice small C2-domain proteins with different biochemical properties in Ca²⁺- and phospholipid-binding assays. Os-ERG1 exhibited Ca²⁺-dependent phospholipid binding, which was not observed with OsERG3. In the present study, we show that both OsERG1 and OsERG3 proteins exhibit oligomerization properties as determined by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and glutaraldehyde cross-linking experiments. Furthermore, in vitro phosphorylation assays reveal the phosphorylation of OsERG1 and OsERG3 by a rice calcium-dependent protein kinase, OsCDPK5. Our mutation analysis on putative serine phosphorylation sites shows that the first serine (Ser) at position 41 of OsERG1 may be an essential residue for phosphorylation by OsCDPK5. Mutation of Ser41 to alanine (OsERG1S41A) and aspartate (OsERG1S41D) abolishes the ability of OsERG1 to bind phospholipids regardless of the presence or absence of Ca²⁺ ions. In addition, unlike the OsERG1 wild-type form, the mutant OsERG1 (S41A)::smGFP construct lost the ability to translocate from the cytosol to the plasma membrane in response to calcium ions or fungal elicitor. These results indicate that Ser41 may be essential for the function of OsERG1.     

Calmodulin and the regulation of smooth muscle contraction

Calmodulin, the ubiquitous and multifunctional Ca²⁺-binding protein, mediates many of the regulatory effects of Ca²⁺, including the contractile state of smooth muscle. The principal function of calmodulin in smooth muscle is to activate crossbridge cycling and the development of force in response to a [Ca²⁺]_i transientvia the activation of myosin light-chain kinase and phosphorylation of myosin. A distinct calmodulin-dependent kinase, Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, has been implicated in modulation of smooth-muscle contraction. This kinase phosphorylates myosin light-chain kinase, resulting in an increase in the calmodulin concentration required for half-maximal activation of myosin light-chain kinase, and may account for desensitization of the contractile response to Ca²⁺. In addition, the thin filament-associated proteins, caldesmon and calponin, which inhibit the actin-activated MgATPase activity of smooth-muscle myosin (the cross-bridge cycling rate), appear to be regulated by calmodulin, either by the direct binding of Ca²⁺/calmodulin or indirectly by phosphorylation catalysed by Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Another level at which calmodulin can regulate smooth-muscle contraction involves proteins which control the movement of Ca²⁺ across the sarcolemmal and sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes and which are regulated by Ca²⁺/calmodulin, e.g. the sarcolemmal Ca²⁺ pump and the ryanodine receptor/Ca²⁺ release channel, and other proteins which indirectly regulate [Ca²⁺]_i via cyclic nucleotide synthesis and breakdown, e.g. NO synthase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. The interplay of such regulatory mechanisms provides the flexibility and adaptability required for the normal functioning of smooth-muscle tissues.     

Protein phosphatase 2A regulates deoxycytidine kinase activity via Ser-74 dephosphorylation

Deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) is a critical enzyme for activation of anticancer nucleoside analogs. Its activity is controlled via Ser-74 phosphorylation. Here, we investigated which Ser/Thr phosphatase dephosphorylates Ser-74. In cells, the PP1/PP2A inhibitor okadaic acid increased both dCK activity and Ser-74 phosphorylation at concentrations reported to specifically target PP2A. In line with this, purified PP2A, but not PP1, dephosphorylated recombinant pSer-74-dCK. In cell lysates, the Ser-74-dCK phosphatase activity was found to be latent, Mn²⁺-activated, responsive to PP2A inhibitors, and diminished after PP2A-immunodepletion. Use of siRNAs allowed concluding definitively that PP2A constitutively dephosphorylates dCK in cells and negatively regulates its activity.     

Activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway through P2Y2 receptors by extracellular ATP is involved in osteoblastic cell proliferation

We studied the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway modulation and its involvement in the stimulation of ROS 17/2.8 osteoblast-like cell proliferation by extracellular ATP. A dose- and time-dependent increase in Akt-Ser 473 phosphorylation (p-Akt) was observed. p-Akt was increased by ATPγS and UTP, but not by ADPβS. Akt activation was abolished by PI3K inhibitors and reduced by inhibitors of PI-PLC, Src, calmodulin (CaM) but not of CaMK. p-Akt was diminished by cell incubation in a Ca²⁺-free medium but not by the use of L-type calcium channel blockers. The rise in intracellular Ca²⁺ induced by ATP was potentiated in the presence of Ro318220, a PKC inhibitor, and attenuated by the TPA, a known activator of PKC. ATP-dependent p-Akt was diminished by TPA and augmented by Ro318220 treatment in a Ca²⁺-containing but not in a Ca²⁺-free medium. ATP stimulated the proliferation of both ROS 17/2.8 cells and rat osteoblasts through PI3K/Akt. In the primary osteoblasts, ATP induces alkaline phosphatase activity via PI3K, suggesting that the nucleotide promotes osteoblast differentiation. These results suggest that ATP stimulates osteoblast proliferation through PI-PLC linked-P2Y₂ receptors and PI3K/Akt pathway activation involving Ca²⁺, CaM and Src. PKC seems to regulate Akt activation through Src and the Ca²⁺ influx/CaM pathway.     

Ppm1E is an in cellulo AMP-activated protein kinase phosphatase

Activation of 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is believed to be the mechanism by which the pharmaceuticals, metformin and phenformin, exert their beneficial effects for treatment of type 2 diabetes. These biguanide drugs elevate 5′-AMP, which allosterically activates AMPK and promotes phosphorylation on Thr172 of AMPK catalytic α subunits. Although kinases phosphorylating this site have been identified, phosphatases that dephosphorylate it are unknown. The aim of this study is to identify protein phosphatase(s) that dephosphorylate AMPKα-Thr172 within cells. Our initial data indicated that members of the protein phosphatase ce:sup>/ce:sup>/Mn²⁺-dependent (PPM) family and not those of the PPP family of protein serine/threonine phosphatases may be directly or indirectly inhibited by phenformin. Using antibodies raised to individual Ppm phosphatases that facilitated the assessment of their activities, phenformin stimulation of cells was found to decrease the ce:sup>/ce:sup>/Mn²⁺-dependent protein serine/threonine phosphatase activity of Ppm1E and Ppm1F, but not that attributable to other PPM family members, including Ppm1A/PP2Cα. Depletion of Ppm1E, but not Ppm1A, using lentiviral-mediated stable gene silencing, increased AMPKα-Thr172 phosphorylation approximately three fold in HEK293 cells. In addition, incubation of cells with low concentrations of phenformin and depletion of Ppm1E increased AMPK phosphorylation synergistically. Ppm1E and the closely related Ppm1F interact weakly with AMPK and assays with lysates of cells stably depleted of Ppm1F suggests that this phosphatase contributes to dephosphorylation of AMPK. The data indicate that Ppm1E and probably PpM1F are in cellulo AMPK phosphatases and that Ppm1E is a potential anti-diabetic drug target.     

Theoretical and experimental investigation of calcium-contraction coupling in airway smooth muscle

We investigated theoretically and experimentally the Ca²⁺-contraction coupling in rat tracheal smooth muscle. [Ca²⁺]_i, isometric contraction and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation were measured in response to 1 mM carbachol. Theoretical modeling consisted in coupling a model of Ca²⁺-dependent MLC kinase (MLCK) activation with a four-state model of smooth muscle contractile apparatus. Stimulation resulted in a short-time contraction obtained within 1 min, followed by a long-time contraction up to the maximal force obtained in 30 min. ML-7 and Wortmannin (MLCK inhibitors) abolished the contraction. Chelerythrine (PKC inhibitor) did not change the short-time, but reduced the long-time contraction. [Ca²⁺ _i responses of isolated myocytes recorded during the first 90 s consisted in a fast peak, followed by a plateau phase and, in 28% of the cells, superimposed Ca²⁺ oscillations. MLC phosphorylation was maximal at 5 s and then decreased whereas isometric contraction followed a Hill-shaped curve. The model properly predicts the time course of MLC phosphorylation and force of the short-time response. With oscillating Ca²⁺ signal, the predicted force does not oscillate. According to the model, the amplitude of the plateau and the frequency of oscillations encode for the amplitude of force, whereas the peak encodes for force velocity. The long-time phase of the contraction, associated with a second increase in MLC phosphorylation, may be explained, at least partially, by MLC phosphatase (MLCP) inhibition, possibly via PKC inhibition.     

The 2-arachidonoylglycerol effect on myosin light chain phosphorylation in human platelets

In human platelets the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) stimulates some important pathways leading to thromboxane B₂ formation, calcium intracellular elevation, ATP secretion and actin polymerisation. The aim of the present study was to examine the 2-AG effect on myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation and to investigate the mechanisms involved. We demonstrated that 2-AG induced a rapid MLC phosphorylation, stimulating both the RhoA kinase (ROCK) and MLC kinase (MLCK) in a dose and time-dependent manner. In addition MLC phosphorylation was strengthened through the MLC phosphatase inhibition. MLC phosphatase inhibition was accomplished through the RhoA/ROCK and protein kinase C mediated phosphorylation of MLC phosphatase inhibiting subunits MYPT1 and CPI-17. The presence of CB1 receptor in human platelets and the involvement of CB1 receptor in MLC phosphorylation and MLC phosphatase inhibition was shown.     

Signaling through Myosin Light Chain Kinase in Smooth Muscles

Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) phosphorylates smooth muscle myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) to initiate contraction. We used a tamoxifen-activated, smooth muscle-specific inactivation of MLCK expression in adult mice to determine whether MLCK was differentially limiting in distinct smooth muscles. A 50% decrease in MLCK in urinary bladder smooth muscle had no effect on RLC phosphorylation or on contractile responses, whereas an 80% decrease resulted in only a 20% decrease in RLC phosphorylation and contractile responses to the muscarinic agonist carbachol. Phosphorylation of the myosin light chain phosphatase regulatory subunit MYPT1 at Thr-696 and Thr-853 and the inhibitor protein CPI-17 were also stimulated with carbachol. These results are consistent with the previous findings that activation of a small fraction of MLCK by limiting amounts of free Ca²⁺/calmodulin combined with myosin light chain phosphatase inhibition is sufficient for robust RLC phosphorylation and contractile responses in bladder smooth muscle. In contrast, a 50% decrease in MLCK in aortic smooth muscle resulted in 40% inhibition of RLC phosphorylation and aorta contractile responses, whereas a 90% decrease profoundly inhibited both responses. Thus, MLCK content is limiting for contraction in aortic smooth muscle. Phosphorylation of CPI-17 and MYPT1 at Thr-696 and Thr-853 were also stimulated with phenylephrine but significantly less than in bladder tissue. These results indicate differential contributions of MLCK to signaling. Limiting MLCK activity combined with modest Ca²⁺ sensitization responses provide insights into how haploinsufficiency of MLCK may result in contractile dysfunction in vivo, leading to dissections of human thoracic aorta.     

The possible involvement of protein phosphatase 1 in thrombin-induced Ca2+ influx of human platelets

Protein phosphatase 1 is considered to be involved in thrombin-induced platelet activation (Murata et al., Biochem Int 26:327–334, 1992). To clarify the mechanism, we examined the effects of protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitors (calyculin A, tautomycin, okadaic acid) on Ca²⁺ influx. In the presence of 1 mM Ca²⁺, thrombin- (0.1 U/ml) induced platelet aggregation and ATP release were inhibited by calyculin A, while this inhibitory effect was abolished in the absence of Ca²⁺ (EGTA 1 mM). Furthermore, thrombin-induced Mn²⁺ influx but not intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization was inhibited by calyculin A in a dose-related manner. Calyculin A also blocked the ongoing Ca²⁺ influx when added 3 min after thrombin stimulation. Similar inhibitory effects were observed with okadaic acid and tautomycin in the same potency sequence as the reported one for protein phosphatase 1 (calyculin A > tautomycin > okadaic acid). These results suggest that the anti-platelet effects of phosphatase inhibitors are due to the inhibition of Ca²⁺ influx and that protein phosphatase 1 plays a key role in the regulation of receptor operated Ca²⁺ channel of human platelets.     

Decreased phosphatase activity, increased Ca2+ sensitivity, and myosin light chain phosphorylation in urinary bladder smooth muscle of newborn mice

Developmental changes in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction were examined in urinary bladder smooth muscle from mice. Maximal active stress was lower in newborn tissue compared with adult, and it was correlated with a lower content of actin and myosin. Sensitivity to extracellular Ca2+ during high-K+ contraction, was higher in newborn compared with 3-wk-old and adult bladder strips. Concentrations at half maximal tension (EC50) were 0.57 +/- 0.01, 1.14 +/- 0.12, and 1.31 +/- 0.08 mM. Force of the newborn tissue was inhibited by approximately 45% by the nonmuscle myosin inhibitor Blebbistatin, whereas adult tissue was not affected. The calcium sensitivity in newborn tissue was not affected by Blebbistatin, suggesting that nonmuscle myosin is not a primary cause for increased calcium sensitivity. The relation between intracellular [Ca2+] and force was shifted toward lower [Ca2+] in the newborn bladders. This increased Ca2+ sensitivity was also found in permeabilized muscles (EC50: 6.10 +/- 0.07, 5.77 +/- 0.08, and 5.55 +/- 0.02 pCa units, in newborn, 3-wk-old, and adult tissues). It was associated with an increased myosin light chain phosphorylation and a decreased rate of dephosphorylation. No difference was observed in the myosin light chain phosphorylation rate, whereas the rate of myosin light chain phosphatase-induced relaxation was about twofold slower in the newborn tissue. The decreased rate was associated with a lower expression of the phosphatase regulatory subunit MYPT-1 in newborn tissue. The results show that myosin light chain phosphatase activity can be developmentally regulated in mammalian urinary bladders. The resultant alterations in Ca2+ sensitivity may be of importance for the nervous and myogenic control of the newborn bladders.     

Calcineurin activation by slow calcium release from intracellular stores suppresses protein kinase C regulation of L-type calcium channels in L6 cells

L-type Ca²⁺ channel activity was assayed in L6 cells as the rate of nifedipine-sensitive Ba²⁺ influx in a depolarizing medium. In the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺, activation of protein kinase C (PKC) with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) or thymeleatoxin (TMX) inhibited Ba²⁺ influx by 38%. Thapsigargin (Tg), a selective inhibitor of the Ca²⁺-ATPase in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, evoked a rise in the cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) in a Ca²⁺-free medium from 30 to 80 nM. This [Ca²⁺]_i increase declined slowly, giving rise to a modest elevation of [Ca²⁺]_i that persisted for >5 min. The inhibitory effects of PMA and TMX on channel activity were abolished when tested in Tg-treated cells in a Ca²⁺-free medium. However, when the Ca²⁺ ionophore, ionomycin, was applied with Tg, PMA and TMX retained their inhibitory effect on L-type Ca²⁺ channel activity, suggesting that a lower amplitude and prolonged release of Ca²⁺ stores is necessary for abrogating PKC-mediated inhibition of LCC. Cyclosporin A (5 μM) and ascomycin (5 μM), inhibitors of the Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase, calcineurin, fully restored the inhibitory effect of PMA and TMX on channel activity. Addition of 1 mM CaCl₂ to the Tg-treated cells increased [Ca²⁺]_i to 165 nM and also restored the inhibitory effects of PMA and TMX. These results indicate that a small, relatively prolonged [Ca²⁺]_i increase elicited by passive depletion of internal Ca²⁺ stores led to activation of calcineurin, giving rise to an increase in protein phosphatase activity that counteracted the inhibitory effects of PKC on channel activity. A larger increase in [Ca²⁺]_i via store-dependent Ca²⁺ entry enhanced the activity of PKC sufficiently to overcome the protein phosphatase activity of calcineurin. This study is the first to demonstrate that the regulation of L-type Ca²⁺ channels in a myocyte model involves a balance between the differential Ca²⁺ sensitivities and opposing actions of PKC and calcineurin.     

Regulatory light chains modulate in vitro actin motility driven by skeletal heavy meromyosin

Phosphorylation and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺ exchange on the regulatory light chains (RLCs) of skeletal myosin modulate muscle contraction. However, the relation between the mechanisms for the effects of phosphorylation and metal ion exchange are not clear. We propose that modulation of skeletal muscle contraction by phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chains (RLCs) is mediated by altered electrostatic interactions between myosin heads/necks and the negatively charged thick filament backbone. Our study, using the in vitro motility assay, showed actin motility on hydrophilic negatively charged surfaces only over the HMM with phosphorylated RLCs both in the presence and absence of Ca²⁺. In contrast, good actin motility was observed on silanized surfaces (low charge density), independent of RLC phosphorylation status but with markedly lower velocity in the presence of Ca²⁺. The data suggest that Ca²⁺-binding to, and phosphorylation of, the RLCs affect the actomyosin interaction by independent molecular mechanisms. The phosphorylation effects depend on hydrophobicity and charge density of the underlying surface. Such findings might be exploited for control of actomyosin based transportation of cargoes in lab-on-a chip applications, e.g. local and temporary stopping of actin sliding on hydrophilic areas along a nanosized track.