Cell Signaling and Cancer Development

Gain of function mutation

Mutation that increases protein function

Loss of function mutation

Mutation that decreases or eliminates protein function

Regulatory genes for carcinogenesis

Genes that control cell growth and division in cancer development

Passenger mutations

Mutations that have no phenotypic consequences

Components of cell signaling pathways

Molecules involved in transmitting signals from cell surface receptors to the nucleus

Cell surface receptor

Protein on the cell surface that binds to signal molecules

First messenger

Signal molecule that binds to a cell surface receptor

Second messengers

Molecules that relay signals from cell surface receptors to target proteins

Target protein

Protein within the cell that is modified in response to a signal

Response

The desired outcome or change in the cell due to signaling

G proteins

Proteins that transmit signals from cell surface receptors to the inside of the cell

G protein-coupled receptors

Cell surface receptors that activate G proteins

Receptor tyrosine kinases

Cell surface receptors that activate signaling pathways by phosphorylating proteins

Kinase

Enzyme that transfers phosphate groups

RAS/MAPK pathway

Cell signaling pathway involved in cell growth and proliferation

RTK

Abbreviation for receptor tyrosine kinase

SOS

Protein that activates RAS in the RAS/MAPK pathway

GRB2

Protein that links RTKs to the RAS/MAPK pathway

RAF

Protein that activates MEK in the RAS/MAPK pathway

MEK

Protein that activates ERK in the RAS/MAPK pathway

ERK/MAPK

Protein that regulates gene expression in the nucleus

Non-receptor tyrosine kinases

Proteins that phosphorylate other proteins within the cell

EGFR

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, a type of RTK

ERBB1

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 1, associated with lung adenocarcinoma

ERBB2/Her2Neu

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2/Her2Neu, associated with breast cancer

FGFR

Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor, a type of RTK

VEGFR

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor, a type of RTK

RET receptor

Receptor associated with medullary thyroid carcinoma