Regulation of Ras-Dependent Signal Transduction Pathways

Ras通路是一个重要的信号转导级联，参与调节细胞增殖、分化和存活。Raf丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶家族成员是该途径的关键中间体，其功能是将活化的Ras信号传递给下游蛋白激酶MEK和ERK。在哺乳动物细胞中发现了三种Raf蛋白：Raf-1、A-Raf和B-Raf。正如人们所期望的那样，在细胞信号传导中如此重要的蛋白质，Raf激酶也有助于致癌转化和癌症。例如，Raf上游调节因子（如受体酪氨酸激酶和Ras）的突变或扩增，经常会在含有这些等位基因的肿瘤中通过Raf/MEK/ERK级联诱导信号失调。此外，组成型活性Raf蛋白本身可以引起细胞转化。特别是，在67%的恶性黑色素瘤以及许多结直肠癌、卵巢癌和甲状腺乳头状癌中观察到B-Raf家族成员的突变。在过去的财政年度，我们的研究发现CK2是一种上游蛋白激酶，有助于Raf的激活。我们的研究还表明，B-Raf激酶的致癌潜能可以通过特定的磷酸化事件和蛋白质相互作用而改变。总之，这些发现确定了具有组成性Ras-或raf依赖信号的肿瘤治疗干预的潜在靶点。

The Ras pathway is a critical signal transduction cascade involved in regulating cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Members of the Raf serine/threonine kinase family are key intermediates in this pathway, functioning to relay signals from activated Ras to the downstream protein kinases, MEK and ERK. Three Raf proteins are found in mammalian cells, Raf-1, A-Raf, and B-Raf. As might be expected for proteins so centrally involved in cell signaling, the Raf kinases also contribute to oncogenic transformation and cancer. For example, mutation or amplification of upstream regulators of Raf, such as receptor tyrosine kinases and Ras, frequently induces deregulated signaling through the Raf/MEK/ERK cascade in tumors harboring these alleles. Moreover, constitutively active Raf proteins can themselves cause cell transformation. In particular, mutation of the B-Raf family member is observed in 67% of malignant melanomas as well as in many colorectal, ovarian, and papillary thyroid carcinomas. During this past fiscal year, our research identified CK2 as an upstream protein kinase that contributes to Raf activation. Our studies have also revealed that the oncogenic potential of the B-Raf kinase can be altered by specific phosphorylation events and protein interactions. Together, these findings identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention in tumors with constitutive Ras- or Raf-dependent signaling.