Protein tyrosine phosphorylation in cardiovascular system.

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation is believed to play a central role in signaling pathways initiated by growth factor receptor activation. Recent studies have shown that various vasoactive peptides, in addition to eliciting a contractile response, also serve as growth factors for vascular smooth muscle ans stimulate tyrosyl phosphorylation of several endogenous proteins. Some of these proteins have been identified and are similar to those stimulated by growth factor receptor activation. Furthermore, evidence is also accumulating to support an involvement of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in acute action of growth factors and vasoactive peptides on smooth an muscle contractility. This review still briefly summarize the recent work on vasoactive peptide-mediated protein tyrosine phosphorylation in cardiovascular tissues and its potential functional significance.