title: Oligomerization activates c-Raf-1 through a Ras-dependent mechanism.
abstract: The c-Raf-1 proto-oncoprotein is a Ras-GTP-regulated protein kinase that associates in situ with 14-3-3 proteins, which are naturally dimeric. In COS cells, recombinant Raf is found in oligomeric assemblies. To examine whether induced oligomerization can alter Raf kinase activity, sequences encoding the FK506-binding protein FKBP12 were fused to the amino terminus of c-Raf-1, introducing a binding site for FK506. Oligomerization of recombinant FKBP-Raf in situ, induced by the addition of the dimeric FK506 derivative FK1012A, activated Raf kinase activity at least half as well as epidermal growth factor (EGF). As with EGF, activation of FKBP-Raf by FK1012A is entirely Ras-GTP dependent. Thus oligomerization of Raf per se promotes Raf activation through a Ras-dependent mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Unit and Medical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02129, USA.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tzivion
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Belshaw
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vavvas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Avruch
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D022021:Tacrolimus Binding Proteins; D014162:Transfection; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; D018631:ras Proteins; D022021:Tacrolimus Binding Proteins