1. Noun. (protein) Any of a family of proteins that binds calcium ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Medical Definition of Calponin
1. Calcium and calmodulin binding troponin T like protein (34 kD) isolated from chicken gizzard and bovine aortic smooth muscle. Interacts with F actin and tropomyosin in a calcium sensitive manner and acts as a regulator of smooth muscle contraction (inhibits when not phosphorylated). Distinct from caldesmon and myosin light chain kinase, but has some antigenic cross reactivity with cardiac Troponin T.
This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology
(11 Mar 2008)
