ROCK-I and ROCK-II, two isoforms of Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein serine/threonine kinase in mice

FEBS Lett. 1996 Aug 26;392(2):189-93. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(96)00811-3.

Abstract

We recently identified a novel human protein kinase, p160 ROCK, as a putative downstream target of the small GTPase Rho. Using the human ROCK cDNA as a probe, we isolated cDNA of two distinct, highly related sequences from mouse libraries. One encoded a mouse counterpart of human ROCK (ROCK-I), and the other encoded a novel ROCK-related kinase (ROCK-II). Like ROCK/ROCK-I, ROCK-II also bound to GTP-Rho selectively. ROCK-I mRNA was ubiquitously expressed except in the brain and muscle, whereas ROCK-II mRNA was expressed abundantly in the brain, muscle, heart, lung and placenta. These results suggest that at least two ROCK isoforms are present in a single species and play distinct roles in Rho-mediated signalling pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Complementary
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Isoenzymes / genetics*
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • rho-Associated Kinases

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Isoenzymes
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • rho-Associated Kinases
  • GTP-Binding Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/U58512
  • GENBANK/U58513