ROCK1-Polyclonal Antibodies

Rho-associated kinase I (ROCK1, ROK beta, p160ROCK) is a serine-threonine protein kinase and an effector of the small GTPase Rho. With N-terminus protein kinase domain and C-terminus Rho-binding domain/pleckstrin homology domain, ROCK1 can be activated by either RhoA or RhoB. In Rho specific ROCK1 activation, a Rho protein binds to the Rho-binding domain and induces a conformational change which opens the kinase domain for the phosphorylation of downstream effectors (1). Activated ROCK1 phosphorylates various signaling proteins, such as myosin light chain phosphatase, LIM kinases, and ezrin-radixin-moesin proteins. Caspase-3 also activates ROCK1; Caspase-3 cleaves ROCK1 at DETD1113/G sequence and removes its inhibitory c-terminal domain. This activation, independent of Rho activity, leads to apoptotic membrane blebbing (2). ROCK1 is involved in regulating actin cytoskeleton assembly, cell migration, centromere positing, smooth muscle contraction, and neurite outgrowth. Its involvement in tumor invasion, hypertension, and bronchial asthma makes ROCK1 an ideal target for drug development (3).

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