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Background:The small GTPase RhoC is an essential mediator of tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Results: The protein kinase MRK binds to and is activated by both RhoA and RhoC, but phenocopies RhoC in the control of LPA-stimulated tumor cell invasion. Conclusion: MRK is a novel RhoC effector that mediates tumor cell invasion. Significance: Dissecting RhoC-mediated signaling is important for understanding tumor metastasis.

The process of regulated or programmed cell death (PCD) executed through genetically encoded intrinsic cellular machinery is widely accepted to represent one of the key cellular responses to extrinsic and intrinsic stimulation. Extensive analysis of PCD carried out during the last decade clearly established that proper execution of PCD is important for normal mammalian development and also for homeostasis of the adult organism. Deregulation of PCD has been linked to development of many severe human diseases like cancer, autoimmunity, stroke, and some neurodegenerative diseases. Although apoptosis, which is the first discovered form of PCD, has been and remains the mainstay of PCD research, better understanding of the process of apoptosis led to the surprising discovery that other forms of PCD also exist and play multiple important roles in health and disease. Small‐molecule inhibitors of apoptotic and nonapoptotic cell death have been successfully developed and proved very useful in defining the mechanisms and functional role of various PCD processes. Furthermore, some molecules have been developed extensively and represent emerging new therapies for human pathologies. In this article, we will discuss the major PCD‐related protein targets of chemical inhibitors and describe the major classes of small molecule inhibitors developed to this point.