Biochemistry 2288A Lecture : Cancer Causing Genes

• School: Western University
• Department: Biochemistry
• Course: Biochemistry 2288A
• Professor: Chris Brandl

Document Summary

Two types of cancer causing genes; oncogenes (dominant) and tumor suppressors (recessive). These oncogenes are present in an aberrant form so. Their level may be altered, we can have more of them. Or their sequence may have changed that their enzymatic activity. (a)oncogene: we have 2 chromosomes, and then a gene change in an oncogene making it hyperactive leading to cancer. This is the dominant scenario. (b)tumor suppressor: in this case it s under-activity that s the problem. In this case we have 2 functional alleles, so a single mutation does not cause a problem, but a mutation in the 2 alleles causes a problem. Or we can have a protein-protein fusion event so now that proteins gets targeted or over expressed or functionally change. These things cause proteins to do things they normally should not be doing, resulting in cancer. In genetic terms, it means its recessive=loss of function.