KRAS Antibody
Description
Product Specs
Product Science Overview
The Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene (KRAS) is a gene that encodes a protein called K-Ras, which is a member of the Ras family of GTPases. This gene plays a crucial role in cell signaling pathways that regulate cell growth, differentiation, and survival. KRAS is of significant interest in cancer research due to its frequent mutations in various human cancers.
KRAS was first identified as an oncogene in the Kirsten Rat Sarcoma virus, which is how it got its name . The oncogene was derived from a cellular genome, and when found in a cellular genome, it is referred to as a proto-oncogene . The KRAS gene is part of the mammalian RAS gene family, which also includes HRAS and NRAS .
The KRAS gene provides instructions for making the K-Ras protein, which is involved in the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway . This protein acts as a molecular switch, cycling between an active GTP-bound state and an inactive GDP-bound state . When bound to GTP, K-Ras transmits signals that promote cell proliferation and survival. The protein is inactivated when it hydrolyzes GTP to GDP .
There are two protein products of the KRAS gene in mammalian cells, resulting from the use of alternative exon 4: K-Ras4A and K-Ras4B . These proteins have different structures in their C-terminal regions and use different mechanisms to localize to cellular membranes, including the plasma membrane .
Mutations in the KRAS gene are common in various cancers, including colorectal, lung, and pancreatic cancers . These mutations often result in a constitutively active K-Ras protein that continuously signals for cell growth and division, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation and tumor formation . KRAS mutations are present in approximately 40% of colorectal cancers and are associated with resistance to certain therapies .
Given the critical role of KRAS in cancer, it has been a target for therapeutic intervention. Various strategies have been explored, including the development of small molecules that inhibit the function of mutant K-Ras proteins and the use of immunotherapies that target KRAS mutations . For example, multi-peptide cancer vaccines targeting KRAS mutants have shown promise in inducing cancer-specific anti-tumor effects .
