[PDF][PDF] Activation mechanism of oncogenic deletion mutations in BRAF, EGFR, and HER2
Cancer cell, 2016•cell.com
Activating mutations in protein kinases drive many cancers. While how recurring point
mutations affect kinase activity has been described, the effect of in-frame deletions is not
well understood. We show that oncogenic deletions within the β3-αC loop of HER2 and
BRAF are analogous to the recurrent EGFR exon 19 deletions. We identify pancreatic
carcinomas with BRAF deletions mutually exclusive with KRAS mutations. Crystal structures
of BRAF deletions reveal the truncated loop restrains αC in an active" in" conformation …
mutations affect kinase activity has been described, the effect of in-frame deletions is not
well understood. We show that oncogenic deletions within the β3-αC loop of HER2 and
BRAF are analogous to the recurrent EGFR exon 19 deletions. We identify pancreatic
carcinomas with BRAF deletions mutually exclusive with KRAS mutations. Crystal structures
of BRAF deletions reveal the truncated loop restrains αC in an active" in" conformation …
Summary
Activating mutations in protein kinases drive many cancers. While how recurring point mutations affect kinase activity has been described, the effect of in-frame deletions is not well understood. We show that oncogenic deletions within the β3-αC loop of HER2 and BRAF are analogous to the recurrent EGFR exon 19 deletions. We identify pancreatic carcinomas with BRAF deletions mutually exclusive with KRAS mutations. Crystal structures of BRAF deletions reveal the truncated loop restrains αC in an active "in" conformation, imparting resistance to inhibitors like vemurafenib that bind the αC "out" conformation. Characterization of loop length explains the prevalence of five amino acid deletions in BRAF, EGFR, and HER2 and highlights the importance of this region for kinase activity and inhibitor efficacy.
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