Oncogenes: past, present and future.
1. Certain retroviruses contain specific genes (oncogenes) which induce tumours. 2. These viral genes were shown to have normal counterparts in the mammalian genome which were termed proto-oncogenes or cellular oncogenes. 3. This breakthrough provided a molecular explanation for tumour formation; viz. cells become transformed when regulation of cellular oncogenes goes awry. 4. Evidence for aberrant control of proto-oncogenes in human malignancies was obtained when chromosomal translocations in Burkitt's lymphomas and chronic myelogenous leukaemia localized to the myc and abl cellular oncogenes, respectively. 5. Recent studies have demonstrated that proto-oncogenes govern cellular proliferation and can be from any part of the signal transduction pathway, for example, growth factors, receptors, intracellular second messengers or nuclear transcription regulators.
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Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009857:Oncogenes; D009858:Oncogenic Viruses / Q000235:genetics