A group of intracellular-signaling serine threonine kinases that bind to RHO GTP-BINDING PROTEINS. They were originally found to mediate the effects of rhoA GTP-BINDING PROTEIN on the formation of STRESS FIBERS and FOCAL ADHESIONS. Rho-associated kinases have specificity for a variety of substrates including MYOSIN-LIGHT-CHAIN PHOSPHATASE and LIM KINASES.

Synonyms: rho Associated Kinase 1 rho-Associated Kinase beta rho-Kinase rho-Associated Kinase alpha EC 2.7.11.1 rho-Associated Kinase rho-Associated Coiled-Coil Containing Protein Kinase 1 rho Associated Kinases rho Associated Protein Kinase alpha rho Associated Coiled Coil Containing Protein Kinase 2 rho-Associated Coiled-Coil Containing Protein Kinase 2 rho Associated Coiled Coil Containing Protein Kinase 1 rho Associated Kinase 2 rho Associated Kinase Coiled-Coil Kinase, rho-Associated rho-Associated Kinases rho Associated Kinase alpha rho Associated Coiled Coil Kinase rho-Associated Kinase 2 rho-Associated Kinase 1 p160ROCK Protein Kinases, ROCK ROCK Protein Kinases p160 rhoA Binding Kinase ROKalpha rho-Associated Protein Kinase beta rho Kinase ROCK I Protein Kinase ROK Kinase rho-Associated Protein Kinase alpha rho Associated Protein Kinase beta rho Associated Kinase beta p160 rhoA-Binding Kinase ROKalpha ROCK-II Protein Kinase rho-Associated Coiled-Coil Kinase ROCK II Protein Kinase ROCK-I Protein Kinase