Rho-associated protein kinase 2

ROCK2 (Rho-associated protein kinase 2) is a serine/threonine kinase and key regulator of actin cytoskeleton dynamics and cell polarity (UniProt: O75116). It phosphorylates numerous substrates including ADD1, MYL9, DPYSL2, and VIM to control smooth muscle contraction, stress fiber formation, cell adhesion, and neurite retraction. The protein also regulates centrosome duplication, MAPK signaling during myogenic differentiation, and spine properties in hippocampal neurons (UniProt: O75116).

ROCK2 is widely expressed and functions across multiple cellular contexts involving cytoskeletal remodeling and cell motility. It plays a critical role in hippocampal synaptic regulation and circadian control of vascular contractility, processes relevant to neuronal function (UniProt: O75116).

ROCK2 is associated with Alzheimer's Disease in this dataset. Proteomics analysis of post-mortem AD brain versus age-matched controls shows ambiguous directional change across subcellular fractions, with a mean log2 fold-change of 0.15 (Chaparral AD proteomics). This modest average value reflects inconsistent regulation across the two fractions examined, suggesting complex compartment-specific or context-dependent involvement in AD pathology.