oncogenes

There are several systems for classifying oncogenes,[11][12] but there is not yet a widely accepted
standard. They are sometimes grouped both spatially (moving from outside the cell inwards) and
chronologically (parallelling the "normal" process of signal transduction). There are several categories
that are commonly used:
Category Examples Description
Usually secreted by specialized cells to induce cell
proliferation in themselves, nearby cells, or distant
cells. An oncogene may cause a cell to secrete
Growth factors, or growth factors even though it does not normally do
c-Sis
mitogens so. It will thereby induce its own uncontrolled
proliferation (autocrine loop), and proliferation of
neighboring cells. It may also cause production of
growth hormones in other parts of the body.
Kinases add phosphate groups to other proteins to
turn them on or off. Receptor kinases add phosphate
epidermal growth factor
groups to receptor proteins at the surface of the cell
receptor (EGFR), platelet-
(which receive protein signals from outside the cell
derived growth factor
Receptor tyrosine and transmit them to the inside of the cell). Tyrosine
receptor (PDGFR), and
kinases kinases add phosphate groups to the amino acid
vascular endothelial growth
tyrosine in the target protein. They can cause cancer
factor receptor (VEGFR),
by turning the receptor permanently on
HER2/neu
(constitutively), even without signals from outside
the cell.
Src-family, Syk-ZAP-70
family, and BTK family of
Cytoplasmic
tyrosine kinases, the Abl gene -
tyrosine kinases
in CML - Philadelphia
chromosome
Cytoplasmic
Serine/threonine Raf kinase, and cyclin-
kinases and their dependent kinases (through -
regulatory overexpression).
subunits
Ras is a small GTPase which hydrolyses GTP into
GDP and phosphate. Ras is activated by growth
factor signaling (ie. EGF, TGFalpha) and acting like
Regulatory
Ras protein a binary switch (on/off) in growth signaling
GTPases
pathways. Downstream effectors of Ras include Raf,
MEK, MEKK, MAPK, ERK, most of which in turn
regulate genes that mediate cell proliferation.
Transcription -They regulate transcription of genes that induce cell
myc gene
factors proliferation.