• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.171-177
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• 2011

Tonic smooth muscle exhibit the latch phenomenon: high force at low myosin regulatory light chains (MRLC) phosphorylation, shortening velocity (Vo), and energy consumption. However, the kinetics of MRLC phosphorylation and cellular activation in phasic smooth muscle are unknown. The present study was to determine whether $Ca^{2+}$-stimulated MRLC phosphorylation could suffice to explain the agonist- or high $K^+$-induced contraction in a fast, phasic smooth muscle. We measured myoplasmic [$Ca^{2+}$], MRLC phosphorylation, half-time after step-shortening (a measure of Vo) and contractile stress in rabbit urinary bladder strips. High $K^+$-induced contractions were phasic at both $22^{\circ}C$ and $37^{\circ}C$: myoplasmic [$Ca^{2+}$], MRLC phosphorylation, 1/half-time, and contractile stress increased transiently and then all decreased to intermediate values. Carbachol (CCh)-induced contractions exhibited latch at $37^{\circ}C$: stress was maintained at high levels despite decreasing myoplasmic [$Ca^{2+}$], MRLC phosphorylation, and 1/half-time. At $22^{\circ}C$ CCh induced sustained elevations in all parameters. 1/half-time depended on both myoplasmic [$Ca^{2+}$] and MRLC phosphorylation. The steady-state dependence of stress on MRLC phosphorylation was very steep at $37^{\circ}C$ in the CCh- or $K^+$-depolarized tissue and reduced temperature flattend the dependence of stress on MRLC phosphorylation compared to $37^{\circ}C$. These data suggest that phasic smooth muscle also exhibits latch behavior and latch is less prominent at lower temperature.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.621-626
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• 2011

AMPK는 catalytic ${\alpha}$ subunit과 regulatory ${\beta}$ 및 ${\gamma}$ subunit으로 구성된 인산화 효소로, 그 동안 생체 내 중요 대사 조절자로써 연구되어 왔으나, 최근 유전학 연구를 통해 지금까지 밝혀지지 아니한 새로운 생체기능을 가짐이 밝혀졌다. 본 연구에서 초파리 유전학 기법을 활용하여 AMPK ${\gamma}$ subunit 유전자가 결손된 모델 초파리를 제작 하여 연구한 결과, AMPK ${\gamma}$ 유전자 결손 시 초파리 embryo의 표피형성이 심각하게 저해됨을 발견하였고, 조직학적 실험을 통해 표피세포의 극성이 AMPK ${\gamma}$ 유전자 결손 초파리에서 손상되어 있음을 확인하였다. 또한 세포극성을 조절하는 중요 분자인 MRLC의 인산화 또한 AMPK ${\gamma}$ 유전자 결손 시 저해되었으며, AMPK ${\gamma}$ 유전자 재도입 시 MRLC인산화와 표피세포의 극성이 모두 회복됨이 확인되어, 초파리 표피세포의 극성유지에 AMPK ${\gamma}$ 유전자가 필수적 임을 확인하였다.