Regulation of actomyosin ATPase in smooth muscle

Actomyosin in smooth muscle is in a quiescent state. The mechanism or mechanisms by which Ca2+ activates the actomyosin ATPase is not clear. There is sufficient evidence for the presence of enzyme systems which phosphorylate and dephosphorylate myosin light chains. The activity of the kinase that phosphorylates the myosin is regulated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Phosphorylated kinase has decreased affinity for calmodulin and lower activity when compared with unphosphorylated myosin light chain kinase. The activity of myosin light chain kinase is also regulated by calcium-calmodulin. In the presence of Ca2+, myosin is phosphorylated. In the absence of Ca2+, the phosphatase activity becomes dominant; the myosin remains in the unphosphorylated form under this condition. The Mg2+-ATPase of the phosphorylated myosin is activated by actin. The maximal activation of the Mg2+-ATPase by actin requires Ca2+ and tropomyosin, a protein located on the thin filament. Hence, the actin-activation of the Mg2+-ATPase requires Ca2+ even after phosphorylation by the calcium-calmodulin dependent kinase. The regulation of actin-activated ATPase activity by myosin light chain phosphorylation is depicted in the schematic diagram. Caldesmon, an actin-binding protein which also binds to calmodulin in the presence of Ca2+, has been shown to be present in thin-filaments isolated from smooth muscle. This protein inhibits actin-activated myosin ATPase activity. The release from this inhibition requires Ca2+ and calmodulin. The possibility that caldesmon is also involved in the calcium regulation of actomyosin in smooth muscle is presently under investigation in a number of laboratories.