Research Paper Volume 14, Issue 3 pp 1292—1306

Figure 7. Overexpression of the Kir6.1 subunit decreases intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) and MLC phosphorylation. (A) qRT-PCR analysis of Kir6.1 subunit mRNA levels in CSMCs transfected with blank or Kir6.1 expression plasmids. Relative expression was normalized to that of GAPDH. (B) Western blotting analysis of Kir6.1 subunit protein levels and phosphorylation of MLC in CSMCs transfected with blank or Kir6.1 expression plasmids. Relative expression was normalized to that of GAPDH. Left panel: Representative image; right panel: Quantitative analysis from three independent experiments. (C) Changes in fluorescence intensity caused by [Ca²⁺]_i relative to baseline (F/F0) in CSMCs transfected with blank or Kir6.1 expression plasmids. F0 was derived from the averaged intensity of the first 0–30 s. CMSCs were incubated in calcium-free HBSS base buffer. Left panel: Fluorescence intensity of [Ca²⁺]_i; right panel: Quantitative analysis of peak F/F0 and a representative image of fluorescence at peak F/F0 from three independent experiments. ^**P < 0.01, ^***P < 0.001.