Abstract
The Rho-associated kinases ROCK I and ROCK II are serine/threonine kinases that play central and critical roles in regulating the actin cytoskeleton. Activation of ROCK proteins contributes positively to the phosphorylation of myosin II light chains (MLC), myosin ATPase activity, stabilization of filamentous actin, and coupling of the actin-myosin filaments to the plasma membrane, thereby leading to the increased actin-myosin force generation and contractility. We have constructed a conditionally-activated form of ROCK II (called ROCK:ER) by fusing the ROCK II kinase domain to the estrogen receptor hormone-binding domain. In this chapter, we describe the construction and characterization of this regulatable ROCK:ER fusion protein.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cattle
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Cell Line
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Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
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Humans
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Mice
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NIH 3T3 Cells
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
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Protein Structure, Tertiary
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Receptors, Estrogen / drug effects
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Receptors, Estrogen / genetics
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Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism*
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
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Tamoxifen / analogs & derivatives
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Tamoxifen / pharmacology
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rho-Associated Kinases
Substances
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Receptors, Estrogen
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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enhanced green fluorescent protein
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Tamoxifen
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Green Fluorescent Proteins
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afimoxifene
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
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rho-Associated Kinases