Smoothelin Proteins and Enzymes

Smoothelin is a constituent of the smooth muscle cell (SMC) cytoskeleton. Antibodies directed to smoothelin are a useful tool to monitor SMC differentiation. Smoothelin is exclusively expressed in fully differentiated (contractile) SMCs. RNA and protein analyses reveal a broad species distribution of this protein. Cells with SMC like characteristics, such as myofibroblasts, myoepithelial cells, and skeletal and cardiac muscle do not contain smoothelin. Confocal scanning laser microscopy of ...