Raf kinases are a family of three serine/threonine-specific protein kinase

Serine/threonine-specific protein kinase

Serine/threonine protein kinases phosphorylate the OH group of serine or threonine .At least 125 of the 500+ human protein kinases are serine/threonine kinases .-Regulation:...

s that are related to retroviral

Retrovirus

A retrovirus is an RNA virus that is duplicated in a host cell using the reverse transcriptase enzyme to produce DNA from its RNA genome. The DNA is then incorporated into the host's genome by an integrase enzyme. The virus thereafter replicates as part of the host cell's DNA...

 oncogene

Oncogene

An oncogene is a gene that has the potential to cause cancer. In tumor cells, they are often mutated or expressed at high levels.An oncogene is a gene found in the chromosomes of tumor cells whose activation is associated with the initial and continuing conversion of normal cells into cancer...

s. The mouse sarcoma virus 3611 contains a Raf kinase-related oncogene that enhances fibrosarcoma

Fibrosarcoma

Fibrosarcoma is a malignant tumor derived from fibrous connective tissue and characterized by immature proliferating fibroblasts or undifferentiated anaplastic spindle cells.Usually in males ages 30 to 40. Originates in fibrous tissues of the bone. Invades long or flat bones such as femur, tibia,...

 induction. The acronym RAF is derived from Rapidly Accelerated Fibrosarcoma.

Raf kinases participate in the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases

In molecular biology, extracellular-signal-regulated kinases or classical MAP kinases are widely expressed protein kinase intracellular signalling molecules that are involved in functions including the regulation of meiosis, mitosis, and postmitotic functions in differentiated cells...

 signal transduction cascade, also referred to as the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade

MAPK/ERK pathway

The MAPK/ERK pathway is a chain of proteins in the cell that communicates a signal from a receptor on the surface of the cell to the DNA in the nucleus of the cell. The signal starts when a growth factor binds to the receptor on the cell surface and ends when the DNA in the nucleus expresses a...

. Activation of RAF kinases requires interaction with RAS-GTPases.

The three RAF kinase family members are:

• A-Raf
  ARAF
  Serine/threonine-protein kinase A-Raf or simply A-Raf is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ARAF gene. A-Raf is a member of the Raf kinase family of serine/threonine-specific protein kinases.-Interactions:...
  
  
• B-Raf
  BRAF (gene)
  Serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf or simply B-Raf, also known as proto-oncogene B-Raf or v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BRAF gene...
  
  
• C-Raf
  C-Raf
  RAF proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase also known as proto-oncogene c-RAF or simply c-Raf is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the RAF1 gene. The c-Raf protein functions in the MAPK/ERK signal transduction pathway as part of a protein kinase cascade...
  
  (Raf-1)