Oncogenes Flashcards
In which ways were oncogenes discovered?
1) studies of retroviruses/homology to viral proteins
2) 3T3 transformation assay
3) chromosomal amplifications and rearrangements
4) DNA sequencing
Outline the discovery of oncogenes in RSV
1) sarcoma removed from chicken
2) sarcoma ground up and added to sand
3) collect filtrate that has passed through fine pore filter
4) inject filtrate into young chicken
5) observe sarcoma in injected chicken
How does avian leukosis virus differ from rous sarcoma virus?
RSV has src oncogene
What is src?
Protein tyrosine kinase that phosphorylase targets
Mutant form of v-src that is truncated to remove SH3 domain. This prevents the domain from folding up and leaves the kinase domain exposed
What are the functions of src?
Binds to and activates signalling pathways
Involved in growth induced mitogenic signalling, survival and migration
What is meant by the oncogene hypothesis?
A normal cellular gene (proto-oncogene) can be converted to a cancer causing gene by mutation
In which ways can a proto-oncogene be converted into an oncogene?
- point mutation
- gene amplification
- chromosomal translocation
- local DNA rearrangement
- insertional mutagenesis
How does the 3T3 transformation assay provide evidence for oncogene creation?
Transfection of DNA to detect non-viral oncogenes
1) transfect human tumour DNA into normal mouse fibroblasts
2) there is formation of a focus of morphologically transformed cells
3) inject into host mouse
4) tumour forms
What types of chromosomal rearrangements are there?
Deletions, translocations, duplications, inversion
What is the basis for chronic myelogenous leukaemia?
Truncation to chromosome 22, juxtaposesBCR-Abl
Transcript is constitutive,y active
What is the basis for burkitt’s lymphoma?
Translocation between chromosomes 8+4
The proto-oncogene is translocation to C14, next to the promoter. Therefore, it is expressed inappropriately due to IgH promoter proximity
What is MYC?
Transcription factor forming a heterodimer with Max, activated by mitogenic signals to trigger active proliferation. Inactivated as MYC dissociates from the complex and is replaced by Mad
What is BRAF?
A constitutively active kinase that drives high levels of cell proliferation
Raf is a serine/threonine specific protein kinase
Outline the steps of signal transduction
1) reception - hormone or growth factor binds to receptor, triggering receptor activation
2) transduction - receptor transmits signal to the inside of the cell and signal is amplified
3) response - cellular response to original signal
What are the key pathways in human cancer?
- growth factor signalling
- MAPK signalling
- PI3K/AKT
- Wnt
- hedgehog
- notch