Main description:

Humans contain more than 20 Rho type GTPases. This volume not only presents a detailed phylogenetic analysis of Rho proteins, but also discusses the possible origins of the human members. Such an analysis of human Rho GTPases has not previously been attempted.

The book includes an overview of how Rho GTPases become activated which is complemented by an extensive Chapter by Darerca Owen and Helen Mott who unravel the beautiful molecular details given to us by the many structural studies of Rho GTPases.

The key areas currently being investigated in relation to these ubiquitous proteins are described for both in vitro and in vivo systems. These are presented in a format that ensures the reader can approach the topic with minimal background knowledge, while ultimately bringing the subject to the level of an expert. Timely and highly authoritative, this volume illuminates newer findings, particularly as they relate to Rho proteins in vertebrate biology.

Contents:

Preface: The Rho Family List of Contributors Chap 1. Rho GTPases - critical regulators in cell biology; Ed Manser Chap 2. Evolution of the human Rho GTPase family: conservation and diversity; Stephanie Pellegrin and Harry Mellor Chap 3. Structural analysis of Rho protein complexes; Darerca Owen and Helen Mott Chap 4. Activation of GTPases by Dock180 family of proteins; Mingjian Lu and Kodi Ravichandran Chap 5. RhoGAPs - regulators of Rho GTPases and more; Tom Jacobs and Christine Hall Chap. 6. RhoA/C and the actin cytoskeleton; Yoji Kawano, Takako Kaneko-Kawano, Takeshi Yoshimura, Saeko Kawabata and Kozo Kaibuchi Chap 7. Cdc42 and Rac control of the actin cytoskeleton; Cheng-Gee Koh and Louis Lim Chap 8. Regulation of cell-cell adhesion by Rho GTPases; Astrid Kraemer and Alpha Yap Chap 9. Rho proteins and vesicle trafficking; Ivan de Curtis Chap 10. The prototype Rho- associated kinase PAK1; Zhuo-Shen Zhao Chap 11. Genetic analysis of Rho function in mice; Raffaella Sordella and Jeffrey Settleman Chap 12. Rho proteins and the microtubule network; Christina Eng and Gregg Gundersen