Furthermore, our study uncovers an important contribution of the non-kinase fusion partner to oncogenesis and potential therapeutic strategies against PLGG-associated CRAF fusions and possibly pan-cancer CRAF fusions.
RAF1 also has essential functions in the control of tumorigenesis and migration that are mediated through its interaction with the kinase ROKα, an effector of the GTPase RHO and regulator of cytoskeletal rearrangements.
The ERK signaling pathway is frequently deregulated in tumorigenesis, mostly by classical mechanisms such as gene mutation of its components (eg, RAS and RAF).
RAF (rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma) Ser/Thr kinases (ARAF, BRAF, and CRAF) link the RAS (rat sarcoma) protein family with the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway and control cell growth, differentiation, development, aging, and tumorigenesis.
Specific mutations of RAF kinases, such as the prevalent BRAF(V600E) mutation in melanoma, or defects in upstream signaling or feedback loops cause decoupled kinase activities which lead to tumorigenesis.
In addition, we find that C-Raf is critical for mutant H-Ras-driven signaling and that events stabilizing B-Raf/C-Raf dimerization, such as Raf inhibitor treatment or certain B-Raf mutations, can allow mutant H-Ras to engage B-Raf with increased affinity to promote tumorigenesis, thus revealing a previously unappreciated role for C-Raf in potentiating B-Raf function.