Twenty years ago, Rho-kinase was identified as an important downstream effector of the
small GTP-binding protein, RhoA. Thereafter, a series of studies demonstrated the important …

The minimal structural unit of a solid tumor is a single cell or a cellular compartment such as
the nucleus. A closer look inside the cells reveals that there are functional compartments or …

Cell migration affects all morphogenetic processes and contributes to numerous diseases,
including cancer and cardiovascular disease. For most cells in most environments …

Rho-associated coiled-coil containing kinases (ROCK) were originally identified as effectors
of the RhoA small GTPase.–They belong to the AGC family of serine/threonine kinases and …

Rho‐associated kinase (Rho‐kinase/ROCK/ROK) is an effector of the small GTPase Rho
and belongs to the AGC family of kinases. Rho‐kinase has pleiotropic functions including …

Abnormal smooth-muscle contractility may be a major cause of disease states such as
hypertension, and a smooth-muscle relaxant that modulates this process would be useful …

ROCKs, or Rho kinases, are serine/threonine kinases that are involved in many aspects of
cell motility, from smooth-muscle contraction to cell migration and neurite outgrowth. Recent …

The execution phase of apoptosis is characterized by marked changes in cell morphology
that include contraction and membrane blebbing. The actin–myosin system has been …

The vascular endothelium is involved in the release of various vasodilators, including nitric
oxide (NO), prostacyclin and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor, as well as …

The transition of cell–matrix adhesions from the initial punctate focal complexes into the
mature elongated form, known as focal contacts, requires GTPase Rho activity. In particular …