Formation of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions enhanced by Rho-kinase

Science. 1997 Feb 28;275(5304):1308-11. doi: 10.1126/science.275.5304.1308.

Abstract

The small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) Rho is implicated in the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions in fibroblasts stimulated by extracellular signals such as lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). Rho-kinase is activated by Rho and may mediate some biological effects of Rho. Microinjection of the catalytic domain of Rho-kinase into serum-starved Swiss 3T3 cells induced the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions, whereas microinjection of the inactive catalytic domain, the Rho-binding domain, or the pleckstrin-homology domain inhibited the LPA-induced formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions. Thus, Rho-kinase appears to mediate signals from Rho and to induce the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Adhesion*
  • Cell Line
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / metabolism
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lysophospholipids / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Staurosporine / pharmacology
  • rho-Associated Kinases

Substances

  • Actins
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lysophospholipids
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • rho-Associated Kinases
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • Staurosporine