The Raf-1 serine/threonine protein kinase.
Raf-1 belongs to a family of serine/threonine protein kinases which are highly conserved through evolution in multicellular organisms. Raf-1 kinase has gained much attention due to its function as a critical shuttle enzyme that connects stimulation of growth factor receptors and protein kinase C at the cell membrane to changes in the expression of genes involved in the control of cell growth, differentiation and survival. Regulation of Raf-1 activity is complex and involves Ras, as well as several serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases. Through a series of phosphorylation events, extracellular signals are connected through the Raf-1/MAP kinase pathway to activity-regulation of several oncogene-class transcription factors via phosphorylation of specific serine residues. Under ordinary circumstances, the cascade involving Raf-1 eventually leads to changes in gene expression and protein synthesis. Upon constitutive activation of Raf-1 kinase, as a result of genetic changes, a variety of cell types acquire a transformed phenotype.
Magnuson
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Department of Microbiology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-4233.
Beck
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Vahidi
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Hahn
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Smola
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Rapp
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D000818:Animals; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; D015398:Signal Transduction
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases