title: Exploring the function of RAS oncogenes by studying the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
abstract: The RAS oncogenes comprise a family of genes found to be activated in perhaps 10-20% of human cancers and which have been highly conserved in evolution. Homologs of the mammalian RAS exist in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (RAS1 and RAS2). We have shown that human ras proteins can complement the loss of RAS1 and RAS2 proteins in yeast, and hence are functionally homologous. Both human and yeast RAS proteins can stimulate the magnesium and guanine nucleotide-dependent adenylate cyclase activity present in yeast membranes. However, RAS proteins do not appear to stimulate adenylate cyclase in vertebrate cells. Our studies indicate that although RAS proteins are essential controlling elements of adenylate cyclase in yeast, they have other essential functions in that organisms. RAS proteins are themselves probably controlled by growth regulatory proteins.
authors.affiliation: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York 11724.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Broek
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Michaeli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nikawa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sass
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Birchmeier
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wigler
mesh_terms: D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011905:Genes, ras; D009857:Oncogenes; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D018631:ras Proteins
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C489014:RAS1 protein, S cerevisiae; C489015:RAS2 protein, S cerevisiae; D018631:ras Proteins