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Regulation of ROCK activity in cancer

Marie Morgan-Fisher1, Ulla M Wewer, Atsuko Yoneda

  • 1Department of Biomedical Sciences, The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, and Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry : Official Journal of the Histochemistry Society
|December 4, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Rho-associated protein kinases (ROCKs) regulate the actin cytoskeleton and are crucial in cancer progression. This review details ROCK regulation and their potential as cancer therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Oncology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cancer progression involves altered cellular behaviors like migration and cell-cell contact, driven by cytoskeletal changes.
  • Rho-associated protein kinases (ROCK I and II) are key regulators of the actin cytoskeleton, downstream of the Rho GTPase.
  • Elevated ROCK protein expression is observed in various cancer types, implicating ROCK in cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular mechanisms regulating ROCK activity in the context of cancer.
  • To emphasize ROCK isoform-specific regulation and interaction partners.
  • To discuss the therapeutic potential of ROCKs as cancer targets.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on molecular mechanisms of ROCK regulation.
  • Analysis of studies on ROCK isoform-specific binding partners and their impact on kinase activity.
  • Examination of the role of ROCK in cancer progression and its potential as a therapeutic target.

Main Results:

  • ROCKs are regulated by conformational changes induced by GTP-loaded Rho.
  • ROCK activity is modulated by isoform-specific binding partners through direct interactions or altered localization.
  • These interactions represent additional modes of ROCK activity regulation.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding ROCK regulation is crucial for cancer research.
  • ROCK isoform-specific regulation and interaction partners offer insights into cancer progression.
  • ROCKs represent promising therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

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