Identification of Myosin Light Chain, Myosin Light Chain Phosphatase, and Rho Kinase in the Corpus Cavernosum of the Rat

Abstract

Myosin light chain kinase, Myosin light chain phosphatase, and Rho kinase are three important regulatory proteins that are involved in regulating penile erection. This study focused on identifying these regulatory proteins in the resting (contracted) state of the corpus cavernosum. Rat corpus cavernous tissues were isolated and collected for protein analysis. Protein samples were then subjected to quantitative protein analysis, one dimensional gel electrophoresis, two dimensional gel electrophoresis and western blotting. The results clearly confirmed that all three regulatory proteins are expressed in this tissue. Future work will be carried out to identify these proteins during different phases of contraction and relaxation under a number of experimental conditions.