Target Information

MLCK, a member of the Ser/Thr protein kinase family, is a calcium/calmodulin-dependent enzyme responsible for smooth muscle contraction via phosphorylation of a specific serine in the N-terminus of myosin light chains (MLC), an event that facilitates myosin interaction with actin filaments. It is a central determinant in the development of vascular permeability and tissue edema formation. In the nervous system it has been shown to control the growth initiation of astrocytic processes in culture and to participate in transmitter release at synapses formed between cultured sympathetic ganglion cells. MLCK acts as a critical participant in signaling sequences that result in fibroblast apoptosis. Smooth muscle and non-muscle isozymes are expressed in a wide variety of adult and fetal tissues and in cultured endothelium with qualitative expression appearing to be neither tissue- nor development-specific. Non-muscle isoform 2 is the dominant splice variant expressed in various tissues. The Telokin isoform, which binds calmodulin, has been found in a wide variety of adult and fetal tissues. MLCK is probably down-regulated by phosphorylation. The protein contains 1 fibronectin type III domain and 9 immunoglobulin-like C2-type domains.

Synonyms

155 kda myosin light chain kinase homolog; 9530072E15Rik; A clone isolated from a chicken gizzard cDNA library which has high homology with the 3'-end sequence of the chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) cDNA; The 5'-leader seqeuence derives from the intronic sequence of the MLCK gene.; A930019C19Rik; AAT7; AW489456; kinase related protein; kinase-related protein; KRP; KRP/Telokin; MLCK; MLCK1; MLCK108; MLCK210; MSTP083; mylk; MYLK1; myosin light chain kinase; myosin light chain kinase, smooth muscle; Myosin light chain kinase, smooth muscle, deglutamylated form; myosin, light polypeptide kinase; nmMlck; smMLCK; smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase; smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (61-kDa active fragment); smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase precursor (EC 2.7.2.37); telokin; unnamed protein product