The viral raf gene is oncogenic because

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The viral raf gene is oncogenic because it encodes a constitutively active protein kinase that is missing a regulatory N terminal domain, leading to uncontrolled cell growth and division. This gain of function mutation is responsible for its oncogenic properties. A loss of function mutation would result in the opposite effect and decrease cell growth and division. The level of expression under the control of the viral env promoter may affect the level of oncogenicity, but it is not the primary reason for its oncogenicity.

The Viral Raf Gene Is Oncogenic Because