title: Why three Rho proteins? RhoA, RhoB, RhoC, and cell motility.
abstract: Higher vertebrates have 3 Rho GTPases, RhoA, RhoB, and RhoC, which share 85% amino acid sequence identity. Here, we compare and contrast the roles of RhoA, B, and C in the regulation of the cytoskeleton and cell motility. Despite their similarity, some regulators and effectors show preferential interaction with RhoA, B, or C, and the three proteins show differences in function in cells. RhoA plays a key role in the regulation of actomyosin contractility. RhoB, which is localized primarily on endosomes, has been shown to regulate cytokine trafficking and cell survival, while RhoC may be more important in cell locomotion. In cancer cells, the expression and activity of RhoA, B, and C is altered in different ways. Together, this evidence suggests that although the 3 isoforms of Rho are structurally highly homologous, they have different cellular functions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Molecular Biology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, London W1W 7BS, United Kingdom. ann.wheeler@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ann P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: Anne J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ridley
mesh_terms: D000205:Actomyosin / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D021381:Protein Transport; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D020743:rhoB GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D000075024:rhoC GTP-Binding Protein
chemical_list: D000205:Actomyosin; C066690:RHOC protein, human; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein; D020743:rhoB GTP-Binding Protein; D000075024:rhoC GTP-Binding Protein