Raf-1: A kinase currently without a cause but not lacking in effects

• Published in: Cell Vol. 64; no. 3; pp. 479 - 482
• Main Authors: Li, Ping, Wood, Kenneth, Mamon, Harvey, Haser, Wayne, Roberts, Tom
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, MA Elsevier Inc 08.02.1991; Cell Press
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell physiology; Enzyme Activation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genes; Molecular and cellular biology; Protein Kinases - physiology; protein-tyrosine kinase; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - physiology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; Proto-Oncogenes; Raf-1 protein; Receptor, Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor - physiology; Receptors, Cell Surface - physiology; Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; reviews; Signal Transduction; Cell proliferation; Signal transduction; Regulation(control); Gene product; Activation; Models; Review; Cell differentiation
• ISSN: 0092-8674
• DOI: 10.1016/0092-8674(91)90228-Q

The protein product of the c-raf-1 gene, designated Raf-1, is a 70-75 kd phosphoprotein with intrinsic kinase activity toward serine and threonine residues. Sequence analysis of the protein suggests a two-domain structure, with a kinase domain occupying the carboxy-terminal half of the molecule and a potential regulatory domain making up the remainder. A variety of biochemical experiments show that the Raf-1 molecule behaves in a manner consistent with its proposed role as a signal transducer for tyrosine kinases. Antibodies against the Ras protein were able to block the action not only of Ras itself but of tyrosine kinases. Notably, the activities of both v-Raf and v-Mos, a more distant member of the Raf family, were not subject to interference by the anti-Ras antibodies. This suggests either that Raf-1 acts downstream of both Ras and tyrosine kinases or that Raf-1 acts through an independent mechanism.