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Physiological limitations on the regulation of smooth muscle contraction

Patrick F. Dillon

The development of the latch hypothesis as a component of smooth muscle contractile regulation has fostered intense research in the past 20 years. The original paper proposing latch (Dillon et al. 1981) has generated more than 500 citations, testing possible mechanisms both in support and opposition. There is general consensus that phosphorylation of the regulatory (20 kDa) light chain of myosin is a sufficient step for the activation of smooth muscle. The mechanical changes associated with smooth muscle contraction, particularly the decline in velocity during prolonged activation, have been demonstrated by many laboratories and are generally accepted. Key elements, especially how that slowing occurs and the degree to which thin filament controls modulate contraction, remain to be solved.