Activation of endogenous c-Src or a related tyrosine kinase by intracellular (pY)EEI peptide increases voltage-operated calcium channel currents in rabbit ear artery cells.

The effect of activation of endogenous c-Src tyrosine kinase by (pY)EEI peptide was examined on voltage-operated calcium channel (VOC) currents in arterial smooth muscle cells. In single rabbit ear artery cells intracellular application of (pY)EEI peptide increased calcium channel currents. Inactive, non-phosphorylated YEEI peptide had no effect on currents. Peptide-A, a 21 amino acid inhibitor of c-Src inhibited currents and prevented the effect of (pY)EEI peptide on calcium channel currents. These results indicate that activation of intrinsic c-Src increases VOC and support a role for c-Src in the regulation of VOC in vascular smooth muscle cells.