Function
Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) phosphorylates the regulatory light chain of myosin at serine residue 19. This phosphorylation enables the myosin crossbridge to bind to the actin filament and allows muscle contraction to begin. Dephosphorylation of the myosin light chain stops muscle contraction[1].
Disease
A variant of MLCK is associated with severe asthma in African Americans[2]. Epithelial MLCK is critical for intestinal barrier dysfunction and hence for pathogenesis of diarrheal diseases[3].