Function
Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) is a Rho GTPase effector. ROCK has been shown to regulate cadherin function and thus cell-cell adhesion[1]. ROCKs phosphorylate a large number of actin-binding proteins to modulate their functions.
Disease
Aberrant ROCK expression and activation contribute to cancer development. ROCK levels are elevated in testicular, bladder and esophageal cancers[2].
Relevance
ROCK inhibitors have potential to be developed for treatment of glaucoma and other ocular diseases[3].
Structural highlights
ROCK contains several domains including (in ROCK1) a kinase domain (residues 76-338); a coiled-coil region (residues 339-1103) which contains a Rho-binding domain (residues 934-1015) and a pleckstrin homology and cysteine-rich domain (residues 1103-1320) at the C-terminal. ROCK1 inhibitor binds in a pocket making interactions with a glycine-rich loop[4].