Fig. 8.
Proposed mechanism by which Cdc42GAP modulates smooth muscle contractility. Contractile activation may suppress the activity of Cdc42GAP via the production of ROS, which in turn leads to the activation of Cdc42 and PAK. Activated PAK may mediate phosphorylation, disassembly, and spatial reorganization of the vimentin network, which may regulate smooth muscle contraction by affecting redistribution of Crk-associated substrate (CAS) and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CamKII), remodeling of contractile elements, and intercellular/intracellular force transmission.