Preferred Label : Rho Cell Motility Signaling Pathway;
Alternative definition : BIOCARTA: RhoA is a small G-protein in the Rho family that regulates cell morphology
via actin cytoskeleton reorganization in response to extracellular signals. The majority
of RhoA activations are due to disruption of intramolecular autoinhibitory interactions.
Changes in cytoskeletal structure and other aspects of cell structure are involved
in cell morphology. RhoA is activated by GEF factors, and repressed by GAPs. GEFs
are guanine nucleotide exchange factors. GAPs are GTPase-activating proteins. The
RhoGAP ARHGAP1 also acts as a GAP for Rac and CDC42. Active RhoA increases the stability
of actin-based structures such as stress fibers and focal adhesions. Several different
factors downstream of RhoA act on cytoskeletal structures to affect stability of these
structures. Rock1 provides a direct link from RhoA to cell morphology through phosphorylation
of the myosin light chain. Rock1 also phosphorylates and activates LIM kinase, which
phosphorylates cofilin. Cofilin stimulates actin depolymerization and changes in cell
structure, and phosphorylation of cofilin by LIM kinase represses this activity. According
to Nimnual et al. Rho activity is reduced as a result of Rac-induced redox-dependent
inhibition. (This definition may be outdated - see the DesignNote.);
NCIt note : The BIOCARTA Definition (ALT_DEFINITION) for this pathway concept was provided by
BioCarta. This property was not created by, nor is it maintained by the NCI Thesaurus
staff. Additionally, BioCarta is no longer updating its pathway data; thus, the BIOCARTA
Definition might be outdated or inaccurate. Please see the Terms and Conditions for
Use at http://www.biocarta.com/.;
Biocarta ID : h_rhoPathway;
Origin ID : C39223;
UMLS CUI : C1514941;
Semantic type(s)
- has_gene_product_element
- pathway_has_gene_element
