What is the RAF gene?
Andrew Ramirez
Published Mar 14, 2026
RAF1 (Raf-1 Proto-Oncogene, Serine/Threonine Kinase) is a Protein Coding gene. Diseases associated with RAF1 include Noonan Syndrome 5 and Leopard Syndrome 2. Among its related pathways are Internalization of ErbB1 and Sertoli-Sertoli Cell Junction Dynamics.
Is RAF a tumor suppressor gene?
In keeping with a role for the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway in invasion, the Raf-inhibitor protein RKIP has been identified as a suppressor of metastasis in many cancers (Granovsky and Rosner, 2008).
What is RAF and RAS?
Raf family members (Raf-1, B-Raf, and A-Raf) are Ras effectors and upstream activators of the ERK pathway. Raf, a serine/threonine protein kinase, can phosphorylate proteins directly or promote protein phosphorylation via MEK/ERK activation downstream and regulate the apoptotic process.
How is RAF kinase activated?
RAF activation is initiated by RAS-GTP association with the RAS binding domain (RBD) situated within the N-terminal regulatory region of the kinase.
Is RAF a scaffold protein?
Based on recent findings, we discuss the possibility that KSR, a RAF-like protein, does not solely act as a scaffold, but directly induces RAF catalytic function by a kinase-independent mechanism apparently shared by RAF-like proteins.
Is RAF a MAPK?
RAF, and ERK (also known as MAPK) are both serine/threonine-selective protein kinases. MEK is a serine/tyrosine/threonine kinase.
Is Raf a scaffold protein?
What happens when Raf is activated?
Once Raf has been activated and the signal transmitted to the downstream kinases MEK and ERK, it is critical that the Rafs return to an inactive state, as constitutive activation can result in tumorigenesis. Several mechanisms that contribute to Raf inactivation have been identified.
Is Raf a MAPK?
Is Raf a Gtpase?
The c-Raf protein is part of the ERK1/2 pathway as a MAP kinase (MAP3K) that functions downstream of the Ras subfamily of membrane associated GTPases. C-Raf is a member of the Raf kinase family of serine/threonine-specific protein kinases, from the TKL (Tyrosine-kinase-like) group of kinases.
Is RAF a protein?
RAF kinases are a family of three serine/threonine-specific protein kinases that are related to retroviral oncogenes. The mouse sarcoma virus 3611 contains a RAF kinase-related oncogene that enhances fibrosarcoma induction. RAF is an acronym for Rapidly Accelerated Fibrosarcoma.
What is the role of scaffold protein?
Protein scaffolds are members of the signaling cascade downstream of cell surface receptors. Scaffold proteins help relay the message between the cell membrane and nucleus faster. They do this by serving as a docking site for multiple protein partners in the cascade so they can be near each other.
Is Ras G A protein?
Ras is a guanosine-nucleotide-binding protein. Specifically, it is a single-subunit small GTPase, which is related in structure to the Gα subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins (large GTPases). G proteins function as binary signaling switches with “on” and “off” states.
Is RAF a Gtpase?
What does Raf activation require?
Although Ras may bind directly to Raf-1, it has been shown that full activation of Raf-1 requires prohibitin (PHB, also known as PHB1). PHB is a highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed protein with pleiotropic functions in cell senescence, cell-cycle control, apoptosis and stabilization of mitochondrial proteins.
How does Raf get phosphorylated?
Raf activation requires phosphorylation of two conserved residues (T491/S494 in C-Raf) in the activation loop and phosphorylation of residues (S338/Y341 in C-Raf) in the N-terminal region of the kinase domain.
Where in the pathway would a scaffolding protein be needed?
Evidence exists that Pellino proteins function as scaffold proteins in the important innate immune signaling pathway, the Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway.
Is Ras a scaffold protein?
Kinase Suppressor of Ras (KSR) Is a Scaffold Which Facilitates Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activation In Vivo.
What does a ras protein do?
Ras proteins function as binary molecular switches that control intracellular signaling networks. Ras-regulated signal pathways control such processes as actin cytoskeletal integrity, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, cell adhesion, apoptosis, and cell migration.
What happens when activate RAS?
Ras, a small GTP-binding protein, is an important component of the signal transduction pathway used by growth factors to initiate cell growth and differentiation. Cell activation with growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces Ras to move from an inactive GDP-bound state to an active GTP-bound state.