['The heat shock-related protein (HSP) 20 is associated with actin and modulates smooth-muscle relaxation. We hypothesized that HSP20 mediates vasorelaxation via dynamic interactions with cytoskeletal proteins, such as actin, or actin binding proteins, such as alpha-actinin.', 'Physiological responses of strips of bovine carotid artery were analyzed with a muscle bath. In other experiments, the arteries were homogenized, and imunoprecipitations were performed. Immunohistochemistry with anti-HSP20 and anti-actinin antibodies was used to determine co-localization of the two proteins.', 'Bovine carotid arteries contracted in response to serotonin and rapidly relaxed in response to forskolin. HSP20 co-immunoprecipitated with both actin and alpha-actinin, but not with HSP27 or paxillin. Immunostaining with HSP20 and alpha-actinin antibodies demonstrated that HSP20 and alpha-actinin co-localized. The amount of HSP20 that immunoprecipitated with alpha -actinin was markedly diminished in muscles that were treated with the vasorelaxant forskolin.'] Is the small heat shock protein ( HSP ) 20 dynamically associated with the actin cross-linking protein actinin?