K+-Induced Smooth Muscle Calcium Sensitization Requires RhoA Kinase (ROK) Translocation to Caveolae Which Is Inhibited in Non-Neuronal Cell Memory
type: CreativeWork
description: KC1 causes smooth muscle contraction by elevating intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i), while receptor stimulation activates an additional mechanism termed Ca2+- sensitization that can involve activation of ROK and PKC. However, recent studies support the hypothesis that KC1 may also increase Ca2+-sensitivity (36). Our data showed that the PKC inhibitor, GF-109203X, did not, while the ROK inhibitor, Y-27632, did inhibit KCl-induced tonic (5’) force and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation in rabbit artery. Y-27632 also inhibited Bay K-8644- and ionomycin-induced MLC phosphorylation and force, but did not inhibit KCl-induced calcium entry or peak (~15”) force. Moreover, KC1 and Bay K-8644 nearly doubled the amount o f ROK colocalized to caveolae at 30”, a time that preceded inhibition of force by Y-27632. Colocalization was not inhibited by Y-27632, but was abolished by nifedipine and the calmodulin blocker, trifluoperazine. Since, -30% of RhoA is colocalized with caveolin basally, these data suggest a novel model for Ca2+-activated Ca2+-sensitization, elicited by KC1 contraction, that involves Ca2+/cam dependent ROK translocation to caveolae and activation by RhoA.
abstract: KC1 causes smooth muscle contraction by elevating intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i), while receptor stimulation activates an additional mechanism termed Ca2+- sensitization that can involve activation of ROK and PKC. However, recent studies support the hypothesis that KC1 may also increase Ca2+-sensitivity (36). Our data showed that the PKC inhibitor, GF-109203X, did not, while the ROK inhibitor, Y-27632, did inhibit KCl-induced tonic (5’) force and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation in rabbit artery. Y-27632 also inhibited Bay K-8644- and ionomycin-induced MLC phosphorylation and force, but did not inhibit KCl-induced calcium entry or peak (~15”) force. Moreover, KC1 and Bay K-8644 nearly doubled the amount o f ROK colocalized to caveolae at 30”, a time that preceded inhibition of force by Y-27632. Colocalization was not inhibited by Y-27632, but was abolished by nifedipine and the calmodulin blocker, trifluoperazine. Since, -30% of RhoA is colocalized with caveolin basally, these data suggest a novel model for Ca2+-activated Ca2+-sensitization, elicited by KC1 contraction, that involves Ca2+/cam dependent ROK translocation to caveolae and activation by RhoA.
author: Urban, Nicole Hairrell
keywords: Calcium sensitization, Caveolae, Cell memory, Potassium, RhoA kinase, Smooth muscle, Biochemistry, Biophysics
date published: 2003-07-01T07:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:35:23Z
provider: Old Dominion University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Old Dominion University