ROCK2
Description
The ROCK2 (Rho associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 2.
Rho associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ROCK2 gene. Fasudil is an inhibitor of ROCK protein. The protein encoded by this gene is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates cytokinesis, smooth muscle contraction, the formation of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions, and the activation of the c-fos serum response element. This protein, which is an isozyme of ROCK1 is a target for the small GTPase Rho.
ROCK2 is a key regulator of actin cytoskeleton and cell polarity. It is involved in regulating smooth muscle contraction, actin cytoskeleton organization, stress fiber and focal adhesion formation, neurite retraction, cell adhesion and motility. It accomplishes this by phosphorylating proteins such as ADD1, BRCA2, CNN1, EZR, DPYSL2, EP300, MSN, MYL9/MLC2, NPM1, RDX, PPP1R12A and VIM. ROCK2 also phosphorylates SORL1 and IRF4. ROCK2 acts as a negative regulator of VEGF-induced angiogenic endothelial cell activation. It positively regulates the activation of p42/MAPK1- p44/MAPK3 and of p90RSK/RPS6KA1 during myogenic differentiation. It plays an important role in the timely initiation of centrosome duplication. It inhibits keratinocyte terminal differentiation. ROCK2 may regulate closure of the eyelids and ventral body wall through organization of actomyosin bundles. It plays a critical role in the regulation of spine and synaptic properties in the hippocampus. It plays an important role in generating the circadian rhythm of the aortic myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity and vascular contractility by modulating the myosin light chain phosphorylation.
ROCK2 is also known as ROCK-II.
