Raf kinase



Raf kinases are a family of three serine/threonine-specific protein kinases that are related to retroviral oncogenes. The mouse sarcoma virus 3611 contains a Raf kinase-related oncogene that enhances fibrosarcoma induction. The acronym RAF is derived from Rapidly Accelerated Fibrosarcoma.

Raf kinases participate in the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signal transduction cascade, also referred to as the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. Activation of RAF kinases requires interaction with RAS-GTPases.

The three RAF kinase family members are:
 * A-Raf
 * B-Raf
 * C-Raf (Raf-1)