Application of Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor to human pluripotent stem cells
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026

Enhancing the Engraftment of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Cardiomyocytes via a Transient Inhibition of Rho Kinase Activity
Published on: July 10, 2019
1Division of Medicine and Engineering Science, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8511, Japan. kurohiro@yamanashi.ac.jp
Abstract:
Susceptibility of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), such as human iPS and embryonic stem (ES) cells, to single-cell dissociation has been a large obstacle to develop the efficient manipulation techniques required for stem cell research. When hPSCs are completely dissociated into single cells, programmed cell death (apoptosis) is immediately induced. A specific inhibitor of Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK inhibitor), Y-27632, is of particular interest as a useful reagent that allows hPSCs to escape the dissociation-induced apoptosis. ROCK inhibitor has been used in a variety of applications associated with cell dissociation in the process of stem cell research, such as passaging, expansion, cryopreservation, gene transfer, differentiation induction, and cell sorting, suggesting that it may be a crucial reagent for the handling of hPSCs. This article reviews the current applications of ROCK inhibitors to stem cell research from the viewpoint of quality control of hPSCs.
Related Concept Videos
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Somatic cells are...
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...

