Recombination And Expression Of SM22αC-terminal Domains And Its Roles In Cytoskeleton

Phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a key role in vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and restenosis. Recent studies have focused on the expression regulation of VSMC-specific marker genes and cytoskeleton organization in association with phenotypic modulation of VSMCs. Smooth muscle 22 alpha (SM22α) is a differentiated VSMC marker, which is characterized by its smooth muscle tissue-specific and VSMC phenotype-specific expression pattern. The function of this protein is still unknown, which is supposed to be associated with actin polymerization. To identify the physical interaction between SM22αand actin, as well as their role in VSMC cytoskeleton reorganization and phenotypic modulation, prokaryotic expression system was established to express GST-SM22αfusion protein in E. coli. Expression products were purified and rabbit anti-SM22αpolyclonal antibody was produced by the purified protein, which was used to observe localization of SM22αin different phenotypic VSMCs and its relationship with VSMC actin polymerization and contraction.1 Recombination and expression of SM22αC-terminal domains and preparation of anti-SM22αpolyclonal antibody...