Bona fide components of the Rho/Rock pathway were identified in sponges.
Y-27632 and GSK429286A inhibitors reduce the kinase activity of Em-ROCK in vitro.
Early hatching gemmules treated with ROCK inhibitors show abnormal growth.
Em-ROCK inhibition leads to the lack of aquiferous system.
A cross-talk between Wnt, Rho/Rock and JNK/JUN is proposed here.