title: Minireview: Mouse Models of Rho GTPase Function in Mammary Gland Development, Tumorigenesis, and Metastasis.
abstract: Ras homolog (Rho) family small GTPases are critical regulators of actin cytoskeletal organization, cell motility, proliferation, and survival. Surprisingly, the large majority of the studies underlying our knowledge of Rho protein function have been carried out in cultured cells, and it is only recently that researchers have begun to assess Rho GTPase regulation and function in vivo. The purpose of this review is to evaluate our current knowledge of Rho GTPase function in mouse mammary gland development, tumorigenesis and metastasis. Although our knowledge is still incomplete, these studies are already uncovering important themes as to the physiological roles of Rho GTPase signaling in normal mammary gland development and function. Essential contributions of Rho proteins to breast cancer initiation, tumor progression, and metastatic dissemination have also been identified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030.
authors.forename: Wonkyung
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030.
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ulu
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Frost
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology*; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins