Question

A cancer cell undergoes cell division in an unregulated manner (for example, when no growth factors are present).   Alterations of the following factors could cause cells to exhibit such ‘uncontrolled growth’ characteristics.  Determine whether the gene encoding the specified factor behaves like an oncogene/proto-oncogene or a tumor suppressor gene.  Briefly explain your reasoning.

1. A kinase that functions in a growth factor signal transduction pathway.

2. A CDK that functions in cell cycle regulation.

3. A kinase that functions to turn off the CDK described in part b.

4. A cyclin that functions with the CDK described in part b.

5. A growth factor receptor.

Answer 1

A. A kinase that functions in a growth factor aignal transduction pathway is tytosine kinase which is encoded by the gene src and abl which are oncogenes.the product of these oncogenes encode transcription factors and overactivity of any of these may reault in unregulated proloferation.

B