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Official Full Name: Raf-1 proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase
Also known as: NS5; CRAF; Raf-1; c-Raf; CMD1NN
This gene is the cellular homologue of the viral raf gene (v-raf). The encoded protein is a MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K), which acts downstream of the directly bound membrane-associated gtpase Ras family. Once activated, cellular RAF1 protein can phosphorylate and activate the dual-specificity protein kinases MEK1 and MEK2, which in turn phosphorylate and activate the serine/threonine-specific protein kinases ERK1 and ERK2. Activated ERKs are pleiotropic factors in cell physiology and play an important role in regulating the expression of genes related to cell division cycle, apoptosis, cell differentiation and cell migration. Mutations in this gene are associated with Noonan syndrome 5 and LEOPARD syndrome 2.