Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The RAS oncogenes KRAS, NRAS and HRAS are mutated in one third of human cancers where they exhibit different mutation patterns. A potential factor contributing to this mutation bias is the variation of RAS expression levels. Here, I investigate some of the determinants of RAS protein abundance. First, I examine whether codon bias among RAS genes and within other cancer gene families plays a role in cell context-specific expression. I further describe a tRNA expression program that favors oncogene translation in proliferating cells. Second, I investigate why oncogenic RAS mutants exhibit a higher protein abundance than the RAS wild type. In this context, I study the underlying mechanisms leading to this variation and more specifically how protein-protein interactions between RAS and its downstream binding partners change the protein turnover of RAS and therefore, its protein abundance. Overall, this thesis provides insight into the possible relevance of RAS protein synthesis and protein degradation as determinants of RAS mutation patterns in human cancers.
Author: Hannah Benisty
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3004277418