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Second nature: Biological functions of the Raf‐1 “kinase”
Author(s) -
Baccarini Manuela
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.03.024
Subject(s) - kinase , gene isoform , context (archaeology) , mapk/erk pathway , oncogene , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , computational biology , cancer , cancer research , gene , genetics , cell cycle , paleontology
More than 20 years ago, Raf was discovered as a cellular oncogene transduced by transforming retroviruses. Since then, the three Raf isoforms have been intensively studied, mainly as the kinases linking Ras to the MEK/ERK signaling module. As this pathway is activated in human cancer, the Raf kinases are considered promising therapeutic targets, and we have learned a lot about their regulation, targets, and functions. Do they still hold surprises? Recent gene targeting studies indicate that they do. This review focuses on the regulation and biology of the best‐studied Raf isoform, Raf‐1, in the context of its kinase‐independent functions.