title: Ser1333 phosphorylation indicates ROCKI activation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two isoforms of Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK), ROCKI and ROCKII, play a pivotal role in regulation of cytoskeleton and are involved in multiple cellular processes in mammalian cells. Knockout mice experiments have indicated that the functions of ROCKI and II are probably non-redundant in physiology. However, it is difficult to differentiate the activation status of ROCKI and ROCKII in biological samples. Previously, we have identified phosphorylation site of ROCKII at Ser1366 residue sensitive to ROCK inhibition. We further investigated the activity-dependent phosphorylation site in ROCKI to establish the reagents that can be used to detect their individual activation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The phosphorylation site of ROCKI sensitive to its inhibition was identified to be the Ser1333 residue. The ROCKI pSer1333-specific antibody does not cross-react with phosphorylated ROCKII. The extent of S1333 phosphorylation of ROCKI correlates with myosin II light chain phosphorylation in cells in response to RhoA stimulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Active ROCKI is phosphorylated at Ser1333 site. Antibodies that recognize phospho-Ser1333 of ROCKI and phospho-S1366 residues of ROCKII offer a means to discriminate their individual active status in cells and tissues.
authors.forename: Hsiang-Hao
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Shao-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, No, 155, Sec, 2, Linong St, Taipei 11221, Taiwan. zfchang@ym.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Zee-Fen
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Hsiao-Hui
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D051379:Mice; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D012694:Serine; C515851:ROCK1 protein, human; C515852:ROCK2 protein, human; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases