REGULATION OF CYTOSKELETON AND CELL ADHESIONS BY THE SMALL GTPASE-RHOAND ITS TARGETS

The Rho GTPase is a member of the Rho family, which belongs to the Ras superfamily of GTP-binding proteins. Like other GTP-binding proteins, Rho exhibits both GDP/GTP-binding activities and functions as a molec ular switch, cycling between an inactive GDP-bound state and a active GTP-bound state. Rho regulates the actin cytoskeleton and cell adhesio ns through its specific targets. Rho is also involved in the regulatio n of cell morphology, cell motility, cytokinesis, and smooth muscle co ntraction. Until recently, however, the molecular mechanism by which R ho regulates these functions remained to be clarified. A lot of target s of Rho have recently been identified, and characterization of some o f them has provided useful information for our understanding of Rho fu nctions. This review is an attempt to focus on the roles of Rho and it s targets in the regulation of the cytoskeletons and cell adhesions. ( C) 1998, Elsevier Science Inc.