title: Contraction reaction: mechanical regulation of Rho GTPase.
abstract: Epithelial cell differentiation is influenced by the physical environment. Local external changes in rigidity of the extracellular matrix are 'sensed' as increased or decreased tension and communicated intracellularly. The communications network that signals the state of the extracellular physical environment acts through the actin cytoskeleton to modulate Rho GTPase activity. A recent paper reports the surprising finding that breast epithelial cells respond to flexible surroundings by downregulating Rho activity through the actions of the Rho-regulated ROCK kinases.
authors.affiliation: Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, BRB II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, 19104-6160, USA. molson@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Olson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins