Merck, 555550-5MGCN, Rho Kinase Inhibitor

A cell-permeable isoquinolinesulfonamide compound that acts as a highly specific, reversible, potent, and ATP-competitive inhibitor of G-protein Rho-associated kinase (ROCK; Kᵢ = 1.6 nM). Exhibits a much weaker affinity for other serine/threonine kinases (Kᵢ = 630 nM for PKA, 9.27 μM for PKC, and 10.1 μM for MLCK). Shown to selectively block lysophosphatidic acid-induced, but not PDBu-induced, phosphorylation of myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate MARCKS (IC₅₀ = 2.5 μM) in NT-2 cells. Reported to be more potent and selective than Y-27632 (Cat. Nos. 688000 and 688001). Mainly targets Aurora Kinase A, and induces polyploidization of acute megakaryocytic leukemia cells (AMKL). At 10 mM (500 µg/128 µl) solution of Rho Kinase Inhibitor (Cat. No. 555552) in H₂O is also available.