Oncogenes

An oncogene is a gene that

contributes to converting a normal cell into a cancer cell.

Cancer cells are cells that are engaged in uncontrolled mitosis.

The signals for normal mitosis

Genes that participate in any one of the steps above can become oncogenes if:

All these oncogenes act as dominants; if the cell has one normal gene (sometimes called a proto-oncogene) at a locus and one mutated gene (the oncogene), the abnormal product takes control.

No single oncogene can, by itself, cause cancer. It can, however, increase the rate of mitosis of the cell in which it finds itself. Dividing cells are at increased risk of acquiring mutations, so a clone of actively dividing cells can yield subclones of cells with a second, third, etc. oncogene. When a clone loses all control over its mitosis it is well on its way to developing into a cancer.

Link to a discussion of the number and types of genetic "errors" needed to produce a full-blown cancer.

This graph (based on the work of E. Sinn et al, Cell 49:465,1987) shows the synergistic effect of two oncogenes. The fraction (%) of transgenic mice without tumors is shown as a function of age. Three groups are shown:




Another class of cancer-promoting genes

Mutations arise from an unrepaired error in DNA. So any gene whose product participates in DNA repair probably can also behave as an oncogene when mutated.

Link to discussion of DNA repair.

Example: ATM. ATM (="ataxia telangiectasia mutated") gets its name from a human disease of that name, whose patients — among other things — are at increased risk of cancer. The ATM protein is also involved in detecting DNA damage and interrupting the cell cycle when damage is found.

It is estimated that fully 1% of the 25,000 or so genes in the human genome are proto-oncogenes.

Tumor-Suppressor Genes

The products of some genes inhibit mitosis. These genes are called tumor suppressor genes.
Discussion of Tumor-Suppressor Genes
Welcome&Next Search

14 October 2005