Rho A regulates sustained smooth muscle contraction through cytoskeletal reorganization of HSP27

A study was conducted to determine how the ras-related protein Rho-A regulates agonist-induced signal transduction cascades in smooth muscle contraction and how it regulates actin binding proteins. Results indicate that Rho A is found in smooth muscle cells and that it is activated during ceramide- and endothelin-induced phosphoinositide 3-kinase-mediated sustaine contraction. Also, Rho may control muscle cell contraction through various pathways via reorganization of the actin binding protein, 27-kDa heat shock protein.