Proto-oncogenes are genes that encode things that help the cell to - TopicsExpress



          

Proto-oncogenes are genes that encode things that help the cell to grow (like growth factors, growth factor receptors, signal transducers, transcription factors, and cell cycle components). The name makes them sound like genes that are destined to become oncogenes (or at least it sounds that way to me) - but proto-oncogenes are just normal genes that encode normal proteins involved in cell growth. They can undergo mutations, like any gene, but normally proto-oncogenes are just sitting there like they are supposed to, encoding the stuff you need for your cells to grow. Oncogenes are mutated proto-oncogenes. If you mutate a proto-oncogene in such a way that it is always on or active, then youll get a cell which grows and divides constantly, without needing outside signals. This called self-sufficiency in growth and its characteristic of cancer cells. A couple proto-oncogenes you might want to remember are: RAS (which normally encodes a signal-transducing protein). RAS is the most commonly mutated proto-oncogene. ABL (which normally encodes a tyrosine kinase). ABL is turned into a super-powerful tyrosine kinase in chronic myeloid leukemia.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 08:56:13 +0000

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