MODULATION OF THE [CA-2+] SENSITIVITY OF MYOSIN PHOSPHORYLATION IN INTACT SWINE ARTERIAL SMOOTH-MUSCLE

1. The [Ca2+] sensitivity of myosin light chain phosphorylation in vascular smooth muscle is dependent on the form of stimulation. Contractile agonist stimulation, when compared to high‐KCl depolarization, is associated with an increase in [Ca2+] sensitivity of phosphorylation. I evaluated potential mechanisms for this stimulus‐specific response by measuring aequorin‐estimated myoplasmic [Ca2+], myosin phosphorylation, and isometric stress in swine carotid media. 2. The relative [Ca2+] sensitivity of phosphorylation depended on the type of stimulus (ranked high to low sensitivity): contractile agonists (histamine, phenylephrine) = endothelin (sustained contraction) = combination of histamine and NaF greater than NaF alone = endothelin (initial contraction) = combination of histamine and depolarization = combination of NaF and depolarization greater than depolarization = Bay K 8644 = combination of depolarization and low‐dose phorbol diester. 3. Activation of L‐type Ca2+ channels with Bay K 8644 induced a [Ca2+] sensitivity of phosphorylation similar to depolarization, suggesting that any other effects of high KCl (such as cellular swelling) were not responsible for the low [Ca2+] sensitivity of phosphorylation. 4. The addition of either histamine or NaF (an activator of G proteins) to depolarized tissues produced similar increases in the [Ca2+] sensitivity of phosphorylation, suggesting that NaF (possibly by activation of a G protein) can mimic contractile agonist‐induced increases in the [Ca2+] sensitivity of phosphorylation. 5. Phorbol dibutyrate enhanced the contractile effect of depolarization, and this enhancement was primarily caused by increases in [Ca2+] rather than an alteration in the [Ca2+] sensitivity of phosphorylation. 6. These data suggest that the [Ca2+] sensitivity of phosphorylation in smooth muscle may be regulated by agonists (possible by G protein activation); however, the role of protein kinase C activation or depolarization induced Ca2+ compartmentalization requires further study. © 1990 The Physiological Society