B-Raf Acts via the ROCKII/LIMK/Cofilin Pathway To Maintain Actin Stress Fibers in Fibroblasts

Members of the Raf family of serine/threonine protein kinases have been well studied in a variety of organisms ranging from Drosophila to humans. Three raf homologues (raf-1, B-raf, and A-raf) exist in mammals, while a single prototypic homologue exists in lower organisms. A wealth of genetic and biochemical data have indicated that Raf family members are signaling kinases that are integral components of the conserved Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascade. Following activation by Ras-dependent mechanisms, Raf protein kinases act as mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase kinases, which phosphorylate and activate the type 1/2 MAP kinase kinases, also known as MEK1/2. These dual-specificity…