Dr. Michael Patrick Walsh

Regulation of cellular functions by second messengers, with emphasis on protein phosphorylation and the control of smooth muscle contraction. The molecular basis of myogenic tone in the cerebral vasculature (in collaboration with Dr. Bill Cole). The mechanism of regulation of urethral smooth muscle contraction by Rho-associated kinase. Calcium sensitization of smooth muscle contraction. Calcium-independent phosphorylation of myosin. The mechanism of activation of myosin light chain kinase by calcium and calmodulin. The roles of protein kinase C and Rho-associated kinase in phosphorylation and inhibition of myosin light chain phosphatase and the phosphatase inhibitor CPI-1. Regulation of delayed rectifier potassium current in vascular smooth muscle (in collaboration with Dr. Bill Cole). Development of highly sensitive proteomic methods for the analysis of myosin phosphorylation in the renal microvasculature (in collaboration with Dr. Rodger Loutzenhiser).