V-Ki-Ras2 Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog (KRAS)

C-K-RAS; K-RAS2A; K-RAS2B; K-RAS4A; K-RAS4B; KI-RAS; KRAS1; KRAS2; NS3; RASK2

SPN	O993
HGNC	6407
MGI	96680
PubMed	6308466
RGD	2981
UniProt	P01116
Wiki	KRAS

Like other members of the Ras family, the KRAS protein is a GTPase and is an early player in many signal transduction pathways. KRAS is usually tethered to cell membranes because of the presence of an isoprenyl group on its C-terminus. When mutated, KRAS is a oncogene. The protein product of the normal KRAS gene performs an essential function in normal tissue signaling, and the mutation of a KRAS gene is an essential step in the development of many cancers.KRAS acts as a molecular on/off switch, once it is turned on it recruits and activates proteins necessary for the propagation of growth factor and other receptors' signal, such as c-Raf and PI 3-kinase. KRAS binds to GTP in the active state and possesses an intrinsic enzymatic activity which cleaves the terminal phosphate of the nucleotide converting it to GDP.

Reference

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