Overview:

The RAS gene superfamily encodes a group of closely related 21,000 dalton (p21) proteins with special affinity for guanine nucleotides (GTP). RAS and several other cellular proteins with similar biochemical properties are collectively known as G-proteins and they play key roles in a wide variety of cellular activities, including cell growth, differentiation, secretion, and protein trafficking (1). There are three forms of RAS gene in cells termed H-RAS, N-RAS, and K-RAS. RAS proteins play a direct causal role in human cancer and in other diseases. Mutant H-RAS, N-RAS, and K-RAS occur in varying frequencies in different tumor types (2). Other members of the RAS superfamily may also contribute to cancer. Various studies indicate that expression of endogenous KRAS isoform B plays a major role in development (3, 4).

Genbank Number:

NM_004985

References:

1. Shih, T. Y., et al: Structure and function of p21 ras proteins. Gene Amplif Anal. 1986;4:53-72.
2. Rodriguez-Viciana, P.: Cancer targets in the Ras pathway. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 2005;70:461-7.
3. Carta, C. et al: Germline Missense Mutations Affecting KRAS Isoform B Are Associated with Severe Noonan Syndrome Phenotype. Am J Hum Genet. 2006;79(1):129-135.
4. Salmon, M. et al: KRAS4A induces metastatic lung adenocarcinomas in vivo in the absence of the KRAS4B isoform. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2021;118(30): 10.1073/pnas.2023112118.