biology

Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog

Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog rather than just read about it. In short: NRAS is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the NRAS gene. It was discovered by a small team of researchers led by Robin Weiss at the Institute of Cancer Research in London.

Key takeaways

Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

NRAS is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the NRAS gene. It was discovered by a small team of researchers led by Robin Weiss at the Institute of Cancer Research in London. It was the third RAS gene to be discovered, and was named NRAS, for its initial identification in human neuroblastoma cells.

Function The N-ras proto-oncogene is a member of the Ras gene family. It is mapped on chromosome 1, and it is activated in HL60, a promyelocytic leukemia line. The order of nearby genes is as follows: centromere—CD2—NGFB—NRAS—tel. The mammalian Ras gene family consists of the Harvey and Kirsten Ras genes (HRAS and KRAS), an inactive pseudogene of each (c-Hras2 and c-Kras1) and the N-Ras gene. They differ significantly only in the C-terminal 40 amino acids. These Ras genes have GTP/GDP binding and GTPase activity, and their normal function may be as G-like regulatory proteins involved in the normal control of cell growth. The N-Ras gene specifies two main transcripts of 2 kb and 4.3 kb. The difference between the two transcripts is a simple extension through the termination site of the 2 kb transcript. The N-Ras gene consists of seven exons (-I, I, II, III, IV, V, VI). The smaller 2 kb transcript contains the VIa exon, and the larger 4.3 kb transcript contains the VIb exon which is just a longer form of the VIa exon. Both transcripts encode identical proteins as they differ only the 3′ untranslated region.

Mutations Mutations which change amino acid residues 12, 13 or 61 activate the potential of N-ras to transform cultured cells and are implicated in a variety of human tumors e.g. melanoma.

As a drug target Binimetinib (MEK162) has had a phase III clinical trial for NRAS Q61 mutant melanoma.

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog

In research: Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Genes on human chromosome 1, Oncogenes, Protein stubs, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog in 20 minutes

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Close the page and write down what Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog means in your own words.
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Frequently asked questions

What is Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog in simple terms?

NRAS is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the NRAS gene. It was discovered by a small team of researchers led by Robin Weiss at the Institute of Cancer Research in London.

Why does Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog.