**5.2 Rho GTPases in cell migration**

Cell migration is a multistep process involving polarization, sequential cell protrusion and adhesion formation in the direction of migration, cells body contraction, and tail detachment (Pinner and Sahai 2008). During the migration process, cells move with extending protrusions at the front and a retracting tail at the rear, both regulated by members of the Rho GTPases family (Ridley, Schwartz et al. 2003). The idea that Rho family GTPases could regulate cell migration derives from observations that they mediate the formation of specific actin containing structures. In addition, Rho proteins regulate several other processes that are relevant to cell migration, including cell-substrate adhesion, cell-cell adhesion, protein secretion, vesicle trafficking, and transcription.
