ONCOGENES: NATURE AND EXPRESSION PRESENTED BY

GROUP 2 MEMBERS

OCTOBER, 2011

INTRODUCTION
Oncogenes are mutated forms of genes which
produce protein that normally enhance cell division

or inhibit normal cell death.

Genes are simply the unit of inheritance, they carry hereditary information and control mechanisms from generation to generation and codes for functional proteins in growth regulation and cell division.

 However, when any form of mutation occurs, there could be an over all dysfunction in the systematic structure of the protein(s) thereof. Hence, a mutant form of human genes that can trigger uncontrolled cell proliferation directly or indirectly if not regulated is ONCOGENE

 Proto-oncogenes encode proteins that function to

stimulate cell division, inhibit cell differentiation, and

halt cell death. Tumor suppressor gene makes proteins that

normally prevent cell division or cause cell death.

The tumor suppressor protein plays a role in keeping cell division in check.

(i) Growth factors

(ii) Growth factor receptors (iii) Signal-transduction proteins (iv) Transcription factors (v) Cell cycle control proteins and (vi) DNA repair proteins

 Mutations changing the structure or expression of iiv proteins generally give rise to dominantly active oncogenes.

Cell cycle control proteins mainly act as tumor

suppressors; mutations in the genes encoding these

proteins act recessively to release cells from control

and surveillance greatly increasing the probability that

the mutant cells will become tumor cell.

Mutations of DNA repair proteins greatly increase

the probability of mutations in the others.

NATURE OF ONCOGENES
VIRAL ONCOGENE are genes from the retrovirus
itself. These viral genes in the host can code for

proteins which can interfere with the normal growth

regulatory proliferation. CELLULAR ONCOGENE: This refers to genes derived from the host cell which are normally in an inactive form or triggers uncontrolled cell growth when they are improperly expressed. mechanisms leading to uncontrolled

Activation of oncogenes
Oncogenes arise either by viral infections or by exposure to carcinogenic agents which leads to

1.

Mutation

Normal Mutated

2. Gene amplification 3. Chromosomal translocation 4. Abnormal activity

Expression of oncogenes
Breast Cancer. her-2/neu (erbB-2): This gene codes for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2. Leukemia and lung cancer: myc: Mutant forms of this gene are known to cause several types of cancers, including B-cell

leukemia.

Expression of oncogenes (contds) Pancreatic, thyroid, bladder, and ovarian cancers.

ras: ras gene products are involved in signaling

pathways that help control transcription of genes that are involved in cell growth and

differentiation.

Others tumors:
htert: Chromosomes become slightly shorter each time a cell divides. src: In certain types of breast, colon, and lung cancers, the src gene is overexpressed.

Conclusion
In general, Oncogenes are mutated forms of normal cellular genes (proto-oncogenes), the protein

products of proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor gene stimulate cell division and regulate it. Oncogenes disrupts a cells ability to control its own growth and DNA repair mechanisms.

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