We analyzed the signaling pathways initiated by endothelin receptors ETA and ETB in intestinal circular and longitudinal smooth muscle cells. The response to endothelin-1 (ET-1) consisted of two phases in both cell types. The initial, transient phase of contraction and phosphorylation of 20-kDa myosin light chain (MLC20) was mediated additively by ETA and ETB receptors and initiated by Galphaq-, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent activation of MLC kinase. In contrast, the sustained phase was mediated selectively by ETA receptors via a pathway involving sequential activation of Galpha13, RhoA, and Rho kinase, resulting in phosphorylation of MYPT1 at Thr696 and phosphorylation of MLC20. Although PKC was activated, CPI-17 was not phosphorylated and hence did not contribute to inhibition of MLC phosphatase. The absence of CPI-17 phosphorylation by PKC reflected active dephosphorylation of CPI-17 by protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). PP2A was activated via a pathway involving ETB-dependent stimulation of p38 MAPK activity. CPI-17 phosphorylation was unmasked in the presence of the ETB antagonist BQ-788, but not the ETA antagonist BQ-123, and in the presence of a low concentration of okadaic acid, which selectively inactivates PP2A. The resultant phosphorylation of CPI-17 was blocked by bisindolylmaleimide, providing direct confirmation that it was PKC dependent. We conclude that the two phases of the intestinal smooth muscle response to ET-1 involve distinct receptors, G proteins, and signaling pathways. The sustained response is mediated via selective ETA-dependent phosphorylation of MYPT1. In contrast, ETB initiates an inhibitory pathway involving p38 MAPK-dependent activation of PP2A that causes dephosphorylation of CPI-17.