Oncogene K-Ras

**Semantic type:** Gene or Genome

**Definition:** Human Oncogene K-Ras is a mutated variant of KRAS2 Gene, which encodes two alternative isoforms of monomeric p21 K-RAS protein, a monomeric GTPase involved in transmembrane signal transduction that alternates between inactive GDP-bound and active GTP-bound forms. K-Ras is activated by a guanine nucleotide-exchange factor and inactivated by a GTPase-activating protein. Mitogen-stimulated RAS stabilizes MYC protein and enhances MYC accumulation by the RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway, which appears to inhibit the proteasome-dependent degradation of MYC. Implicated in a variety of human tumors, mutations of specific amino acids activate RAS to transform cells. KRAS is involved in malignancy much more often than is HRAS. Oncogene K-Ras disrupts normal cell function.

**Synonyms:** - KRAS - KRAS2 - Ki-RAS - Oncogene, K-Ras - Oncogene, K-Ras-2 - RASK2 - v-Ki-RAS2 Kirsten Rat Sarcoma 2 Viral Oncogene Homolog