Apoptosis: caspases orchestrate the ROCK 'n' bleb

Although membrane blebbing is a characteristic morphological change associated with apoptosis, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this process. New research has identified the Rho GTPase targe ROCK-I as being cleaved by caspases during apoptosis. ROCK-I is known to stimulate actomyosin-based contractility. Once cleaved, ROCK-I Is constitutively active and is responsible for bleb formation In apoptotic cells.