Fig. 7.

Regulatory contractile gene expression in Notch signaling-deficient smooth muscle. A: smooth muscle protein (SM)22-Cre⁺/dominant negative Mastermind-like 1 (DNMAML1)⁺ (SM22Cre⁺/DNMAML1⁺; Cre⁺) primary aortic smooth muscle cells displayed reduced myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and myosin phosphatase-targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) levels relative to SM22Cre⁻/DNMAML1⁺ (Cre⁻) controls. Representative immunoblots are shown with data normalized to β-actin and controls. Data represent means (SD) (n = 4) and were analyzed using a t-test, *P = 0.0004 and **P = 0.0002. B: Notch signaling inhibition in smooth muscle impairs Ca²⁺ sensitization. Representative immunoblots displayed blunted KCl-induced phosphorylation of MYPT1 (p-Thr⁶⁹⁶ and p-Thr⁸⁵³) in SM22Cre⁺/DNMAML1⁺ aortic SMCs exposed to 60 mM KCl for 0–30 min (0–30′). Data represent means ± SE (n = 4) and were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test, *P < 0.01 and **P < 0.001 (vs. 0 min). KCl stim, KCl stimulation.