Phosphorylation regulates Id3 function in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Understanding the mechanisms that regulate cell cycle progression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is key to understanding and modulating vascular lesion formation. Results of the present study provide the first evidence that phosphorylation of the helix-loop-helix factor Id3 in VSMCs occurs in vitro and in vivo and provides a regulatory switch controlling Id3-induced regulation of p21Cip1 and VSMC growth.